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WORKS 


CHARLES    DICKENS. 


HOUSEHOLD  EDITION. 


ILLTJSTRATED  FROM  DRAWINGS    BY  F.   0.   C.   DARLEY 
AND   JOHN    GILBERT. 


OLIVER    TWIST. 

VOL.  I. 


NEW   YORK: 
JAMES   G.    GREGORY,   PUBLISHER, 

46    WALKER    STREET. 
1861.  K^ 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1861,  by 

W.   A.   TOWNSEND   AND   COMPANT, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of 
New  York. 


RIVERSIDE,    Cambridge: 

STEREOTYPED   AND   PRINTED   BY  H.   0.   HOUGHTON. 


AW^'^'^^^' 


THE    ADVENTURES 


OLIVER    TWIST 


PREFACE. 


"Some  of  the  author's  friends  cried,  'Lookee,  gentlemen,  the  man 
is  a  villain;  but  it  is  Nature  for  all  that; '  and  the  young  critics  of  the 
age,  the  clerks,  apprentices,  &;c.,  called  it  low,  and  fell  a-groaning."  — 

FlELDI>'G. 

The  greater  part  of  this  Tale  was  originally  published 
in  a  magazine.  When  I  completed  it,  and  put  it  forth 
in  its  present  form,  it  was  objected  to  on  some  high 
moral  grounds  in  some  high  moral  quarters. 

It  was,  it  seemed,  a  coarse  and  shocking  circum- 
stance, that  some  of  the  characters  in  these  pages  are 
chosen  from  the  most  criminal  and  degraded  of  Lon- 
don's population ;  that  Sikes  is  a  thief,  and  Fagin  a 
receiver  of  stolen  goods ;  that  the  boys  are  pickpockets, 
and  the  girl  is  a  prostitute. 

I  have  yet  to  learn  that  a  lesson  of  the  purest  good 
may  not  be  drawn  from  the  vilest  evil.  I  have  always 
beheved  this  to  be  a  recognized  and  established  truth, 
laid  down  by  the  greatest  men  the  world  has  ever  seen, 
constantly  acted  upon  by  the  best  and  wisest  natures, 
and   confirmed  by  the  reason  and  experience  of  every 


VI  PREFACE. 

thinking  mind.  I  saw  no  reason,  when  I  wrote  this 
book,  why  the  dregs  of  life,  so  long  as  their  speech 
did  not  offend  the  ear,  should  not  serve  the  purpose 
of  a  moral,  at  least  as  well  as  its  froth  and  cream. 
Nor  did  I  doubt  tliat  there  lay  festering  in  Saint 
Giles's  as  good  materials  towards  the  truth  as  any  to 
be  found  in  Saint  James's. 

In  this  spirit,  when  I  wished  to  show,  in  little  Oliver, 
the  principle  of  Good  surviving  through  every  adverse 
circumstance,  and  triumphing  at  last ;  and  when  I  con- 
sidered among  what  companions  I  could  try  him  best, 
having  regard  to  that  kind  of  men  into  whose  hand, 
he  would  most  naturally  fall;  I  bethought  myself  of 
those  who  figure  in  these  volumes.  When  I  came  to 
discuss  the  subject  more  maturely  with  myself,  I  saw 
many  strong  reasons  for  pursuing  the  course  to  which 
I  was  inchned.  I  had  read  of  thieves  by  scores  — 
seductive  fellows  (amiable  for  the  most  part),  faultless 
in  dress,  plump  in  pocket,  choice  in  horseflesh,  bold  in 
bearing,  fortunate  in  gallantry,  great  at  a  song,  a  bottle, 
pack  of  cards  or  dice-box,  and  fit  companions  for  the 
bravest.  But  I  had  never  met  (except  in  Hogarth) 
with  the  miserable  reality.  It  appeared  to  me  that  to 
draw  a  knot  of  such  associates  in  crime  as  really  do 
exist ;  to  paint  them  in  all  their  deformity,  in  all  their 
wretchedness,  in  all  the  squalid  poverty  of  their  lives ; 
to  show  them  as  they  really  are,  forever  skulking  un- 
easily through  the  dirtiest  paths  of  life,  with  the  great, 


PREFACE.  vii 

black,  ghastly  gallows  closing  up  their  prospect,  turn 
them  where  they  may ;  —  it  appeared  to  rae  that  to  do 
this  would  be  to  attempt  a  something  which  was  greatly 
needed,  and  which  would  be  a  service  to  society.  And 
therefore  I  did  it  as  I  best  could. 

In  every  book  I  know,  where  such  characters  are 
treated  of  at  all,  certain  allurements  and  fascinations 
are  thrown  around  them.  Even  in  the  Beggar's  Opera, 
the  thieves  are  represented  as  leading  a  life  which  is 
rather  to  be  envied  than  otherwise ;  while  Macheath, 
with  all  the  captivations  of  command,  and  the  devotion 
of  the  most  beautiful  girl  and  only  pure  character  in 
the  piece,  is  as  much  to  be  admired  and  emulated  by 
weak  beholders,  as  any  iSne  gentleman  in  a  red  coat 
who  has  purchased,  as  Voltaire  says,  the  right  to 
command  a  couple  of  thousand  men,  or  so,  and  to  af- 
front death  at  their  head.  Johnson's  question,  whether 
any  man  will  turn  thief  because  Macheath  is  reprieved, 
seems  to  me  beside  the  matter.  I  ask  myself,  whether 
any  man  will  be  deterred  from  turning  thief  because 
of  his  being  sentenced  to  death,  and  because  of  the 
existence  of  Peachum  and  Lockit;  and  remembering 
the  captain's  roaring  life,  great  appearance,  vast  suc- 
cess, and  strong  advantages,  I  feel  assured  that  nobody 
having  a  bent  that  way  will  take  any  warning  from 
him,  or  will  see  anything  in  the  play  but  a  very  flowery 
and  pleasant  road,  conducting  an  honorable  ambition, 
in  course  of  time,  to  Tyburn  Tree. 


viii  PREFACE. 

In  fact,  Gay's  witty  satire  on  society  had  a  general 
object,  which  made  him  careless  of  example  in  this 
respect,  and  gave  him  other  aims.  The  same  may  be 
said  of  Sir  Edward  Bulwer's  admirable  and  powerful 
novel  of  Paul  Clifford,  which  cannot  be  fairly  con- 
sidered as  having,  or  being  intended  to  have,  any 
bearing  on  this  part  of  the  subject,  one  way  or  other. 

What  manner  of  life  is  that  which  is  described  in 
these  pages,  as  the  every-day  existence  of  a  Thief? 
What  charms  has  it  for  the  young  and  ill-disposed, 
what  allurements  for  the  most  jolter-headed  of  juve- 
niles? Here  are  no  canterings  on  moonlit  heaths,  no 
merry-makings  in  the  snuggest  of  all  possible  caverns, 
none  of  the  attractions  of  dress,  no  embroidery,  no  lace, 
no  jack-boots,  no  crimson  coats  and  ruffles,  none  of  the 
dash  and  freedom  with  which  "  the  road "  has  been, 
time  out  of  mind,  invested.  The  cold,  wet,  shelterless 
midnight  streets  of  London ;  the  foul  and  frowzy  dens, 
where  vice  is  closely  packed  and  lacks  the  room  to 
turn ;  the  haunts  of  hunger  and  disease,  the  shabby  rags 
that  scarcely  hold  together ;  —  where  are  the  attractions 
of  these  things  ?  Have  they  no  lesson,  and  do  they 
not  whisper  something  beyond  the  little-regarded  warn- 
ing of  an  abstract  moral  precept  ? 

But,  there  are  people  of  so  refined  and  delicate  a 
nature,  that  they  cannot  bear  the  contemplation  of  these 
horrors.  Not  that  they  turn  instmctively  from  crime  ; 
but  that  criminal  characters,  to  suit  them,  must  be,  hke 


PREFACE.  IX 

their  meat,  in  delicate  disguise.  A  Massaroni  in  green 
velvet  is  an  enchanting  creature ;  but  a  Sikes  in  fustian 
is  insupportable.  A  Mrs.  Massaroni,  being  a  lady  in 
short  petticoats  and  a  fancy  dress,  is  a  thing  to  imitate 
in  tableaux  and  have  in  lithograph  on  pretty  songs ; 
but  a  Nancy,  being  a  creature  in  a  cotton  gown  and 
cheap  shawl,  is  not  to  be  thought  of.  It  is  wonderful 
how  Virtue  turns  from  dirty  stockings ;  and  how  Vice, 
married  to  ribbons  and  a  little  gay  attire,  changes  her 
name,  as  wedded  ladies  do,  and  becomes  Romance. 

Now,  as  the  stern  and  plain  truth,  even  in  the  dress 
of  this  (in  novels)  much  exalted  race,  was  a  part  of  the 
purpose  of  this  book,  I  will  not,  for  these  readers,  abate 
one  hole  in  the  Dodger's  coat,  or  one  scrap  of  curl- 
paper in  the  girl's  dishevelled  hair.  I  have  no  faith  in 
the  delicacy  which  cannot  bear  to  look  upon  them.  I 
have  no  desire  to  make  proselytes  among  such  people. 
I  have  no  respect  for  their  opinion,  good  or  bad ;  do 
not  covet  their  approval;  and  do  not  write  for  their 
amusement.  I  venture  to  say  this  without  reserve ; 
for  I  am  not  aware  of  any  writer  in  our  language  hav- 
ing a  respect  for  himself,  or  held  in  any  respect  by 
his  posterity,  who  ever  has  descended  to  the  taste  of 
this  fastidious  class. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  I  look  for  examples,  and  for 
precedents,  I  find  them  in  the  noblest  range  of  English 
literature.  Fielding,  De  Foe,  Goldsmith,  Smollett, 
Richardson,  Mackenzie,  —  all  these,  for  wise  purposes, 


X  PREFACE. 

and  especially  the  two  first,  brought  upon  the  scene  the 
very  scum  and  refuse  of  the  land.  Hogarth,  the  mor- 
alist and  censor  of  his  age,  —  in  whose  great  works 
the  times  in  which  he  lived,  and  the  characters  of  every 
time,  will  never  cease  to  be  reflected,  —  did  the  like, 
without  the  compromise  of  a  hair's  breadth.  Where  does 
this  giant  stand  now,  in  the  estimation  of  his  country- 
men ?  And  yet,  if  I  turn  back  to  the  days  in  which 
he  or  any  of  these  men  flourished,  I  find  the  same  re- 
proach levelled  against  them  every  one,  each  in  his 
turn,  by  the  insects  of  the  hour,  who  raised  their  little 
hum,  and  died  and  were  forgotten. 

Cervantes  laughed  Spain's  chivalry  away,  by  showing 
Spain  its  impossible  and  wild  absurdity.  It  was  my 
attempt,  in  my  humble  and  far-distant  sphere,  to  dim 
the  false  glitter  surrounding  something  which  really 
did  exist,  by  showing  it  in  its  unattractive  and  repul- 
sive truth.  No  less  consulting  my  own  taste  than  the 
manners  of  the  age,  I  endeavored,  while  I  painted  it 
in  all  its  fallen  and  degraded  aspect,  to  banish  from  the 
lips  of  the  lowest  character  I  introduced  any  expression 
that  could  by  possibihty  offend;  and  rather  to  lead  to 
the  unavoidable  inference  that  its  existence  was  of  the 
most  debased  and  vicious  kind,  than  to  prove  it  elabo- 
rately by  words  and  deeds.  In  the  case  of  the  girl, 
in  particular,  I  kept  this  intention  constantly  in  view. 
Whether  it  is  apparent  in  the  narrative,  and  how  it  is 
executed,  I  leave  my  readers  to  determine. 


PREFACE.  xi 

It  has  been  observed  of  this  girl,  that  her  devotion 
to  the  brutal  house-breaker  does  not  seem  natural,  and 
it  has  been  objected  to  Sikes  in  the  same  breath  —  with 
some  inconsistency,  as  I  venture  to  think  —  that  he  is 
surely  overdrawn,  because  in  him  there  would  appear 
to  be  none  of  those  redeeming  traits  which  are  objected 
to  as  unnatural  in  his  mistress.  Of  the  latter  objection 
I  will  merely  say,  that  I  fear  there  are  in  the  world 
some  insensible  and  callous  natures,  that  do  become,  at 
last,  utterly  and  irredeemably  bad.  But  whether  this 
be  so  or  not,  of  one  thing  I  am  certain  :  that  there  are 
such  men  as  Sikes,  who,  being  closely  followed  through 
the  same  space  of  time,  and  through  the  same  current 
of  circumstances,  would  not  give,  by  one  look  or  action 
of  a  moment,  the  faintest  indication  of  a  better  nature. 
Whether  every  gentler  human  feeling  is  dead  within 
such  bosoms,  or  the  proper  chord  to  strike  has  rusted 
and  is  hard  to  find,  I  do  not  know ;  but  that  the  fact  is 
so,  I  am  sure. 

It  is  useless  to  discuss  whether  the  conduct  and  char- 
acter of  the  gh'l  seems  natural  or  unnatural,  probable 
or  improbable,  right  or  wrong.  It  is  true.  Every 
man  who  has  watched  these  melancholy  shades  of  life 
knows  it  to  be  so.  Suggested  to  my  mind  long  ago,  by 
what  I  often  saw  and  read  of,  in  actual  life  around  me, 
I  have  tracked  it  through  many  profligate  and  noisome 
ways,  and  found  it  still  the  same.  From  the  first  in- 
troduction of  that  poor  wretch,  to  her  laying  her  bloody 


Xil  PKEFACE. 

head  upon  the  robber's  breast,  there  is  not  one  word  ex- 
aggerated or  overwrought.  It  is  emphatically  God's 
truth,  for  it  is  the  truth  He  leaves  in  such  depraved 
and  miserable  breasts ;  the  hope  yet  lingering  behind  ; 
the  last  fair  drop  of  water  at  the  bottom  of  the  dried- 
up,  weed-choked  well.  It  involves  the  best  and  worst 
shades  of  our  common  nature  ;  much  of  its  ugliest  hues, 
and  something  of  its  most  beautiful ;  it  is  a  contradic- 
tion, an  anomaly,  an  apparent  impossibility,  but  it  is  a 
truth.  I  am  glad  to  have  had  it  doubted,  for  in  that  cir- 
cumstance I  find  a  sufficient  assurance  that  it  needed 
to  be  told. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 

Treats  of  the  Place  where  Oliver  Twist  was  Born ;  and  of  the 
Circumstances  attending  his  Birth 17 

CHAPTER  H. 
Treats  of  Oliver  Twist's  Growth,  Education,  and  Board       .        .    22 


CHAPTER  in. 

Relates  how  Oliver  Twist  was  very  near  getting  a  Place,  which 
would  not  have  been  a  Sinecure 36 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Oliver,  being  offered  another  Place,  makes  his  first  Entry  into 
Public  Life 48 


CHAPTER  V. 

Oliver  mingles  with  new  Associates.  Going  to  a  Funeral  for  the 
first  Time,  he  forms  an  unfavorable  Notion  of  his  Master's 
Business 58 

CHAPTER  YI. 

Oliver,  being  goaded  by  the  Taunts  of  Noah,  rouses  into  Action, 
and  rather  astonishes  him 73 


CHAPTER  VH. 
Oliver  continues  refractory 80 


xiv  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

PAGE 

Oliver  walks  to  London.  He  encounters  on  the  Road  a  Strange 
sort  of  young  Gentleman 89 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Containing  further  Particulars  concerning  the  pleasant  old  Gen- 
tleman, and  his  hopeful  Pupils 101 

CHAPTER   X. 

Oliver  becomes  better  acquainted  with  the  Characters  of  his  new 
Associates ;  and  purchases  Experience  at  a  high  Price.  Being 
a  short,  but  very  important  Chapter,  in  this  History      .        .  110 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Treats  of  Mr.  Fang  the  Police  Magistrate ;  and  furnishes  a  slight 
Specimen  of  his  Mode  of  administering  Justice      .        .        .  117 

CHAPTER  XII. 

In  which  Oliver  is  taken  better  Care  of  than  he  ever  was  before. 
And  in  which  the  Narrative  reverts  to  the  merry  old  Gentle- 
man and  his  youthful  Friends 127 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

Some  new  Acquaintances  are  introduced  to  the  intelligent  Reader; 
connected  with  whom,  various  pleasant  Matters  are  related, 
appertaining  to  this  History 140 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Comprising  further  Particulars  of  Oliver's  stay  at  Mr.  Brown- 
low's,  with  the  remarkable  Prediction  which  one  Mr.  Grim- 
wig  uttered  concerning  him,  when  he  went  out  on  an  Errand.  151 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Showing  how  very  fond  of  OUver  Twist,  the  merry  old  Jew  and 
Miss  Nancy  were 165 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Relates  what  became  of  Ohver  Twist,  after  he  had  been  claimed 
by  Nancy 174 


CONTENTS.  XV 

CHAPTER  XYH. 

PAQS 

Oliver's  Destiny,  continuing  unpropitious,  brings  a  Great  Man  to 
London  to  injure  his  Reputation 187 

CHAPTER  XVm. 

How  Oliver  passed  his  Time  in  the  improving  Society  of  his 
reputable  Friends 200 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
In  which  a  notable  Plan  is  discussed  and  determined  on       .        .  211 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Wherein  Oliver  is  delivered  over  to  Mr.  William  Sikes        .        .  224 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
The  Expedition 235 


CHAPTER  XXn. 
The  Burglary 


CHAPTER  XXIH. 

Which  contains  the  Substance  of  a  pleasant  Conversation  between 
Mr.  Bumble  and  a  Lady ;  and  shows  that  even  a  Beadle  may 
be  susceptible  on  some  Points 253 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Treats  of  a  very  poor  Subject.  But  is  a  short  one;  and  may  be 
found  of  Importance  in  this  History 263 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Wherein  this  History  reverts  to  jMr.  Fagin  and  Company      .        .  271 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

In  which  a  mysterious  Character  appears  upon  the  Scene;  and 
many  Things,  inseparable  from  this  History,  are  done  and 
performed 280 


XVI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 

PAGE 

Atones  for  the  unpoliteness  of  a  former  Chapter;  which  deserted 
a  Lady,  most  unceremoniously  296 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Looks  after  Oliver,  and  proceeds  with  his  Adventures  .        .        .306 


OLIVER    TWIST 


CHAPTER  I. 


TREATS  OF  THE  PLACE  WHERE  OLIVER  TWIST  WAS 
BORN  ;  AND  OF  THE  CIRCUMSTANCES  ATTENDING 
HIS    BIRTH. 

Among  other  public  buildings  in  a  certain  town,  which 
for  many  reasons  it  will  be  prudent  to  refrain  from  men- 
tioning, and  to  which  I  will  assign  no  fictitious  name, 
there  is  one  anciently  common  to  most  towns,  great  or 
small :  to  wit,  a  workhouse  ;  and  in  this  workhouse  was 
born :  on  a  day  and  date  which  I  need  not  trouble  my- 
self to  repeat,  inasmuch  as  it  can  be  of  no  possible  con- 
sequence to  the  reader,  in  this  stage  of  the  business  at 
all  events  :  the  item  of  mortality  whose  name  is  prefixed 
to  the  head  of  this  chapter. 

For  a  long  time  after  it  was  ushered  into  this  world 
of  sorrow  and  trouble,  by  the  parish  surgeon,  it  remained 
a  matter  of  considerable  doubt  whether  the  child  would 
survive  to  bear  any  name  at  all ;  in  which  case  it  is 
somewhat  more  than  probable  that  these  memoirs  would 
never  have  appeared ;  or,  if  they  had,  that,  being  com- 
prised within  a  couple  of  pages,  they  would  have  pos- 
sessed the  inestimable  merit  of  being  the  most  concise 

VOL.  I.  2 


18  OLIVER  TWIST. 

and  faithful  specimen  of  biography  extant  in  the  litera- 
ture of  any  age  or  country. 

Although  I  am  not  disposed  to  maintain  that  the  being 
born  in  a  workhouse  is  in  itself  the  most  fortunate  and 
enviable  circumstance  that  can  possibly  befall  a  human 
being,  I  do  mean  to  say  that,  in  this  particular  instance, 
it  was  the  best  thing  for  Oliver  Twist  that  could  by  pos- 
sibility have  occurred.  The  fact  is,  that  there  was  con- 
siderable difficulty  in  inducing  Oliver  to  take  upon  him- 
self the  office  of  respiration,  —  a  troublesome  practice, 
but  one  which  custom  has  rendered  necessary  to  our 
easy  existence ;  and  for  some  time  he  lay  gasping  on  a 
little  flock  mattress,  rather  unequally  poised  between 
this  world  and  the  next :  the  balance  being  decidedly  in 
favor  of  the  latter.  Now,  if,  during  this  brief  period, 
Oliver  had  been  sun-ounded  by  careful  grandmothers, 
anxious  aunts,  experienced  nurses,  and  doctors  of  pro- 
found wisdom,  he  would  most  inevitably  and  indubita- 
bly have  been  killed  in  no  time.  There  being  nobody 
by,  however,  but  a  pauper  old  woman,  who  was  rendered 
rather  misty  by  an  unwonted  allowance  of  beer ;  and  a 
parish  surgeon  who  did  such  matters  by  contract;  Oliver 
and  Nature  fought  out  the  point  between  them.  The 
result  was,  that,  after  a  few  struggles,  Oliver  breathed, 
sneezed,  and  proceeded  to  advertise  to  the  inmates  of 
the  workhouse  the  fact  of  a  new  burden  having  been 
imposed  upon  the  parish,  by  setting  up  as  loud  a  cry  as 
could  reasonably  have  been  expected  from  a  male  infant 
who  had  not  been  possessed  of  that  very  useful  appen- 
dage, a  voice,  for  a  much  longer  space  of  time  than 
three  minutes  and  a  quarter. 

As  Oliver  gave  this  first  proof  of  the  free  and  proper 
action  of  his  lungs,  the  patchwork  coverlet  which  was 


OLIVER  TWIST.  19 

carelessly  flung  over  the  iron  bedstead,  rustled  ;  the  pale 
face  of  a  young  woman  was  raised  feebly  from  the  pil- 
low ;  and  a  faint  voice  imperfectly  articulated  the  words, 
"  Let  me  see  the  child,  and  die." 

The  surgeon  had  been  sitting  with  his  face  turned 
towards  the  fire  :  giving  the  palms  of  his  hands  a  warm 
and  a  rub  alternately.  As  the  young  woman  spoke,  he 
rose,  and  advancing  to  the  bed's  head,  said,  with  more 
kindness  than  might  have  been  expected  of  him : 

"  Oh,  you  must  not  talk  about  dying,  yet." 

"  Lor'  bless  her  dear  heart,  no  ! "  interposed  the  nurse, 
hastily  depositing  in  her  pocket  a  green  glass  bottle,  the 
contents  of  which  she  had  been  tasting  in  a  corner  with 
evident  satisfaction.  "  Lor'  bless  her  dear  heart,  when 
she  has  lived  as  long  as  I  have,  sir,  and  had  thirteen 
children  of  her  own,  and  all  on  'em  dead  except  two, 
and  them  in  the  wurkus  with  me,  she'll  know  better 
than  to  take  on  in  that  way,  bless  her  dear  heart ! 
Think  what  it  is  to  be  a  mother,  there's  a  dear  young 
lamb,  do." 

Apparently  this  consolatory  perspective  of  a  mother's 
prospects  failed  in  producing  its  due  effect.  The  patient 
shook  her  head,  and  stretched  out  her  hand  towards  the 
child. 

The  surgeon  deposited  it  in  her  arras.  She  imprinted 
her  cold  white  lips  passionately  on  its  forehead ;  passed 
her  hands  over  her  face  ;  gazed  wildly  round  ;  shud- 
dered ;  fell  back  —  and  died.  They  chafed  her  breast, 
hands,  and  temples ;  but  the  blood  had  stopped  forever. 
They  talked  of  hope  and  comfort.  They  had  been  stran- 
gers too  long. 

"  It's  all  over,  Mrs.  Thingummy ! "  said  the  surgeon 
at  last. 


20  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Ah,  poor  dear,  so  it  is  !  "  said  the  nurse,  picking 
up  the  cork  of  the  green  bottle,  which  had  fallen  out  on 
the  pillow,  as  she  stooped  to  take  up  the  child.  "  Poor 
dear ! " 

"  You  needn't  mind  sending  up  to  me  if  the  child 
cries,  nurse,"  said  the  surgeon,  putting  on  his  gloves 
with  great  deliberation.  "  It's  very  likely  it  will  be 
troublesome.  Give  it  a  little  gruel  if  it  is."  He  put 
on  his  hat,  and,  pausing  by  the  bedside  on  his  way  to 
the  door,  added,  "  She  was  a  good-looking  girl,  too ; 
where  did  she  come  from  ?  " 

"  She  was  brought  here  last  night,"  replied  the  old 
woman,  "  by  the  overseer's  order.  She  was  found  ly- 
ing in  the  street.  She  had  walked  some  distance,  for 
her  shoes  were  worn  to  pieces  ;  but  where  she  came  from, 
or  where  she  was  going  to,  nobody  knows." 

The  surgeon  leaned  over  the  body,  and  raised  the  left 
hand.  "  The  old  story,"  he  said,  shaking  his  head :  "  no 
wedding-ring,  I  see.   '  Ah  !     Good-night !  " 

The  medical  gentleman  walked  away  to  dinner ;  and 
the  nurse,  having  once  more  applied  herself  to  the  green 
bottle,  sat  down  on  a  low  chair  before  the  fire,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  dress  the  infant. 

What  an  excellent  example  of  the  power  of  dress 
young  Oliver  Twist  was  !  Wrapped  in  the  blanket 
which  had  hitherto  formed  his  only  covering,  he  might 
have  been  the  child  of  a  nobleman  or  a  beggar  ;  it 
would  have  been  hard  for  the  haughtiest  stranger  to 
have  assigned  him  his  proper  station  in  society.  But 
now  that  he  was  enveloped  in  the  old  calico  robes 
which  had  grown  yellow  in  the  same  service,  he  was 
badged  and  ticketed,  and  fell  into  his  place  at  once  — 
a  parish  child  —  the  orphan  of  a  workhouse  —  the  hum- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  21 

ble,  half-starved  drudge  —  to  be  cuffed  and  buffeted 
through  the  world  —  despised  by  all,  and  pitied  by 
none. 

Oliver  cried  lustily.  If  he  could  have  known  that  he 
was  an  orphan,  left  to  the  tender  mercies  of  church- 
wardens and  overseers,  perhaps  he  would  have  cried  the 
louder. 


OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  II 

TREATS    OF  OLIVER  TWIST's  GROWTH,  EDUCATION,  AND 
BOARD. 

For  the  next  eight  or  ten  months,  Oliver  was  the 
victim  of  a  systematic  course  of  treachery  and  decep- 
tion. He  was  brought  up  by  hand.  The  hungry  and 
destitute  situation  of  the  infant  orphan  was  duly  re- 
ported by  the  workhouse  authorities  to  the  parish  author- 
ities. The  parish  authorities  inquired  with  dignity  of 
the  workhouse  authorities,  whether  there  was  no  female 
then  domiciled  in  "  the  house "  who  was  in  a  situation 
to  impart  to  Oliver  Twist  the  consolation  and  nourish- 
ment of  which  he  stood  in  need.  The  workhouse  au- 
thorities replied  with  humility,  that  there  was  not.  Upon 
this,  the  parish  authorities  magnanimously  and  humanely 
resolved,  that  Oliver  should  be  "  farmed,"  or,  in  other 
words,  that  he  should  be  despatched  to  a  branch  work- 
house some  three  miles  off,  where  twenty  or  thirty  other 
juvenile  offenders  against  the  poor-laws  rolled  about  the 
floor  all  day,  without  the  inconvenience  of  too  much  food 
or  too  much  clothing,  under  the  parental  superintendence 
of  an  elderly  female,  who  received  the  culprits  at  and 
for  the  consideration  of  sevenpence-halfpenny  per  small 
head  per  week.  Sevenpence-halfpenny's  worth  per  week 
is  a  good  round  diet  for  a  child ;  a  great  deal  may  be  got 


OLIVER  TWIST.  23 

for  sevenpence-halfpenny  :  quite  enough  to  overload  its 
stomach,  and  make  it  uncomfortable.  The  elderly  female 
was  a  woman  of  wisdom  and  experience  ;  she  knew  what 
was  good  for  children  ;  and  she  had  a  very  accurate  per- 
ception of  what  was  good  for  herself.  So,  she  appropri- 
ated the  greater  part  of  the  weekly  stipend  to  her  own 
use,  and  consigned  the  rising  parochial  generation  to 
even  a  shorter  allowance  than  was  originally  provided 
for  them.  Thereby  finding  in  the  lowest  depth  a  deeper 
still ;  and  proving  herself  a  very  great  experimental 
philosopher. 

Everybody  knows  the  story  of  another  experimental 
philosopher,  who  had  a  great  theory  about  a  horse  being 
able  to  live  without  eating,  and  who  demonstrated  it  so 
well,  that  he  got  his  own  horse  down  to  a  straw  a  day, 
and  would  most  unquestionably  have  rendered  him  a 
very  spirited  and  rampacious  animal  on  nothing  at  all, 
if  he  had  not  died,  just  four-and-twenty  hours  before  he 
was  to  have  had  his  first  comfortable  bait  of  air.  Un- 
fortunately for  the  experimental  philosophy  of  the  fe- 
male to  whose  protecting  care  Oliver  Twist  was  deliv- 
ered over,  a  similar  result  usually  attended  the  operation 
of  her  system  ;  for  at  the  very  moment  when  a  child  had 
contrived  to  exist  upon  the  smallest  possible  portion  of 
the  weakest  possible  food,  it  did  perversely  happen  in 
eight  and  a  half  cases  out  of  ten,  either  that  it  sickened 
from  want  and  cold,  or  fell  into  the  fire  from  neglect,  or 
got  half-smothered  by  accident ;  in  any  one  of  which 
cases  the  miserable  little  being  was  usually  summoned 
into  another  world,  and  there  gathered  to  the  fathers  it 
had  never  known  in  this. 

Occasionally,  when  there  was  some  more  than  usually 
interesting  inquest  upon  a  parish  child  who  had  been 


24  OLIVER  TWIST. 

overlooked  in  turning  up  a  bedstead,  or  inadvertently- 
scalded  to  death  when  there  happened  to  be  a  washing, 
though  the  latter  accident  was  very  scarce,  —  anything 
approaching  to  a  washing  being  of  rare  occurrence  in 
the  farm,  —  the  jury  would  take  it  into  their  heads  to 
ask  troublesome  questions,  or  the  parishioners  would 
rebelliously  affix  their  signatures  to  a  remonstrance. 
But  these  impertinences  were  speedily  checked  by  the 
e^'idence  of  the  surgeon,  and  the  testimony  of  the  bea- 
dle ;  the  former  of  whom  had  always  opened  the  body 
and  found  nothing  inside  (which  was  very  probable  in- 
deed), and  the  latter  of  whom  invariably  swore  what- 
ever the  parish  wanted  ;  which  was  very  self-devotional. 
Besides,  the  board  made  periodical  pilgrimages  to  the 
farm,  and  always  sent  the  beadle  the  day  before  to  say 
they  were  going.  The  children  were  neat  and  clean  to 
behold,  when  they  went ;  and  what  more  would  the 
people  have  ! 

It  cannot  be  expected  that  this  system  of  farming 
would  produce  any  very  extraordinary  or  luxuriant 
crop.  Oliver  Twist's  ninth  birthday  found  him  a  pale, 
thin  child,  somewhat  diminutive  in  stature,  and  decidedly 
small  in  circumference.  But  nature  or  inheritance  had 
implanted  a  good  sturdy  spirit  in  Oliver's  breast.  It 
had  had  plenty  of  room  to  expand,  thanks  to  the  spare 
diet  of  the  establishment ;  and  perhaps  to  this  circum- 
stance may  be  attributed  his  having  any  ninth  birth- 
day at  all.  Be  this  as  it  may,  however,  it  was  his  ninth 
birthday  ;  and  he  was  keeping  it  in  the  coal-cellar  with 
a  select  party  of  two  other  young  gentlemen,  who,  after 
participating  with  him  in  a  sound  threshing,  had  been 
locked  up  therein  for  atrociously  presuming  to  be  hun- 
gry, when  Mrs.  Mann,  the  good  lady  of  the  house,  was 


OLIVER  TWIST.  25 

unexpectedly  startled  by  the  apparition  of  Mr.  Bumble, 
the  beadle,  striving  to  undo  the  wicket  of  the  garden- 
gate. 

"  Goodness  gracious  !  is  that  you,  Mr.  Bumble,  sir  ?  " 
said  Mrs.  Mann,  thrusting  her  head  out  of  the  window 
in  well-affected  ecstasies  of  joy.  "  (Susan,  take  Oliver 
and  them  two  brats  up-stairs,  and  wash  'em  directly.)  — 
My  heart  alive  !  Mr.  Bumble,  how  glad  I  am  to  see 
you,  sure-ly  !  " 

Now,  Mr.  Bumble  was  a  fat  man,  and  a  choleric ;  so, 
instead  of  responding  to  this  open-hearted  salutation  in  a 
kindred  spirit,  he  gave  the  little  wicket  a  tremendous 
shake,  and  then  bestowed  upon  it  a  kick  which  could 
have  emanated  from  no  leg  but  a  beadle's. 

"  Lor',  only  think,"  said  Mrs.  Mann,  running  out,  — 
for  the  three  boys  had  been  removed  by  this  time, 
—  "  only  think  of  that !  That  I  should  have  forgotten 
that  the  gate  was  bolted  on  the  inside,  on  account  of 
them  dear  children  !  Walk  in,  sir ;  walk  in,  pray,  Mr. 
Bumble,  do,  sir." 

Although  this  invitation  was  accompanied  with  a  cour- 
tesy that  might  have  softened  the  heart  of  a  churchwar- 
den, it  by  no  means  mollified  the  beadle. 

"  Do  you  think  this  respectful  or  proper  conduct,  Mrs. 
IMann,"  inquired  Mr.  Bumble,  grasping  his  cane,  "  to 
keep  the  parish-officers  awaiting  at  your  garden-gate, 
when  they  come  here  upon  porochial  business  connected 
with  the  porochial  orphans  ?  Are  you  aweer,  Mrs. 
Mann,  that  you  are,  as  I  may  say,  a  porochial  delegate, 
and  a  stipendiary  ?  " 

"  I'm  sure,  Mr.  Bumble,  that  I  was  only  a-telling  one  or 
two  of  the  dear  children  as  is  so  fond  of  you,  that  it  was 
you  a-coming,"  replied  Mrs.  Mann  with  great  humility. 


26  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Mr.  Bumble  had  a  great  idea  of  his  oratorical  powers 
and  his  importance.  He  had  displayed  the  one,  and  vin- 
dicated the  other.     He  relaxed. 

"  Well,  well,  Mrs.  Mann,"  he  replied  in  a  calmer  tone ; 
"  it  may  be  as  you  say ;  it  may  be.  Lead  the  way  in, 
Mrs.  Mann,  for  I  come  on  business,  and  have  something 
to  say." 

Mrs.  Mann  ushered  the  beadle  into  a  small  parlor 
with  a  brick  floor,  placed  a  seat  for  him,  and  officiously 
deposited  his  cocked-hat  and  cane  on  the  table  before 
him.  Mr.  Bumble  wiped  from  his  forehead  the  per- 
spiration which  his  walk  had  engendered,  glanced  com- 
placently at  the  cocked-hat,  and  smiled.  Yes,  he  smiled. 
Beadles  are  but  men  :  and  Mr.  Bumble  smiled. 

"  Now,  don't  you  be  offended  at  what  I'm  a-going  to 
say,"  observed  Mrs.  Mann,  with  captivating  sweetness. 
"  You've  had  a  long  walk,  you  know,  or  I  wouldn't  men- 
tion it.  Now,  will  you  take  a  little  drop  of  somethink, 
Mr.  Bumble?" 

"  Not  a  drop.  Not  a  drop,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  waving 
his  right  hand,  in  a  dignified,  but  placid  manner. 

"  I  think  you  will,"  said  Mrs.  Mann,  who  had  noticed 
the  tone  of  the  refusal,  and  the  gesture  that  had  accom- 
panied it.  "  Just  a  leetle  drop,  with  a  little  cold  water, 
and  a  lump  of  sugar." 

Mr.  Bumble  coughed. 

"  Now,  just  a  leetle  drop,"  said  Mrs.  Mann  per- 
suasively. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  inquired  the  beadle. 

"  Why  it's  what  I'm  obliged  to  keep  a  little  of  in  the 
house,  to  put  into  the  blessed  infants'  Daffy,  when  they 
a'n't  well,  Mr.  Bumble,"  replied  Mrs.  Mann  as  she 
opened  a  corner  cupboard,  and  took  down  a  bottle  and 


OLIVER  TWIST.  27 

glass.  "  It's  gin.  I'll  not  deceive  you,  Mr.  B.  It's 
gin." 

"  Do  you  give  the  children  Daffy,  Mrs.  Mann  ? "  in- 
quired Bumble,  following  with  his  eyes  the  interesting 
process  of  mixing. 

"  Ah,  bless  'em  !  that  I  do,  dear  as  it  is,"  replied  the 
nurse.  "  I  couldn't  see  'em  suffer  before  my  very  eyes, 
you  know,  sir." 

"  No,"  said  IMr.  Bumble  approvingly  ;  "  no,  you  could 
not.  You  are  a  humane  woman,  INIrs.  Mann."  (Here 
she  set  down  the  glass.)  "  I  shall  take  an  early  oppor- 
tunity of  mentioning  it  to  the  board,  Mrs.  Mann."  (He 
drew  it  towards  him.)  "  You  feel  as  a  mother,  Mrs. 
Mann."  (He  stirred  the  gin-and- water.)  "I  — I  drink 
your  health  with  cheerfulness,  Mrs.  Mann  ; "  and  he 
swallowed  half  of  it. 

"  And  now  about  business,"  said  the  beadle,  taking  out 
a  leathern  pocket-book.  "  The  child  that  was  half-bap- 
tized '  Oliver  Twist,'  is  nine  year  old  to-day." 

"  Bless  him !"  interposed  Mrs.  Mann,  inflaming  her  left 
eye  wnth  the  corner  of  her  apron. 

"  And  notwithstanding  a  offered  reward  of  ten  pound, 
which  was  afterwards  increased  to  twenty  pound.  Not- 
withstanding the  most  superlative,  and,  I  may  say,  super- 
nat'ral  exertions  on  the  part  of  this  parish,"  said  Bumble, 
"  we  have  never  been  able  to  discover  who  is  his  father, 
or  what  was  his  mother's  settlement,  name,  or  con  —  di- 
tion." 

Mrs.  Mann  raised  her  hands  in  astonishment  ;  but 
added,  after  a  moment's  reflection,  "  How  comes  he  to 
have  any  name  at  all,  then  ?  " 

The  beadle  drew  himself  up  with  great  pride,  and  said, 
"  I  inwented  it." 


28  OLIVER  TWIST. 

«  You,  Mr.  Bumble  ! " 

"  I,  Mrs.  Mann.  We  name  our  foundlings  in  alpha- 
betical order.  The  last  was  a  S,  —  '  Swubble '  I  named 
him.  This  was  a  T,  — '  Twist '  I  named  him.  The  next 
one  as  comes  will  be  '  Unwin,'  and  the  next  '  Vilkins.'  I 
have  got  names  ready-made  to  the  end  of  the  alphabet, 
and  all  the  way  through  it  again,  when  we  come  to  Z." 

"  Why,  you're  quite  a  literary  character,  sir ! "  said 
Mrs.  Mann. 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  beadle,  evidently  gratified  with 
the  compliment ;  "  perhaps  I  may  be.  Perhaps  I  may 
be,  Mrs.  Mann."  He  finished  the  gin-and-water,  and 
added,  "  Oliver  being  now  too  old  to  remain  here,  the 
board  have  determined  to  have  him  back  into  the  house. 
I  have  come  out  myself  to  take  him  there.  So  let  me 
see  him  at  once." 

"  I'll  fetch  him  directly,"  said  Mrs.  Mann,  leaving  the 
room  for  that  purpose.  Oliver,  having  had  by  this  time 
as  much  of  the  outer  coat  of  dirt,  which  encrusted  his 
face  and  hands,  removed,  as  could  be  scrubbed  off  in  one 
washing,  was  led  into  the  room  by  his  benevolent  pro- 
tectress. 

"  Make  a  bow  to  the  gentleman,  Oliver,"  said  Mrs. 
Mann. 

Oliver  made  a  bow,  which  was  divided  between  the 
beadle  on  the  chair,  and  the  cocked-hat  on  the  table. 

"  Will  you  go  along  with  me,  Oliver  ?  "  said  Mr.  Bum- 
ble, in  a  majestic  voice. 

Oliver  was  about  to  say  that  he  would  go  along  with 
anybody  with  great  readiness,  when,  glancing  upwards, 
he  caught  sight  of  Mrs.  Mann,  who  had  got  behind  the 
beadle's  chair,  and  was  shaking  her  fist  at  him  with  a 
furious  countenance.     He  took  the  hint  at  once,  for  the 


OLIVER  TWIST.  29 

fist  had  been  too  often  impressed  upon  his  body  not  to 
be  deeply  impressed  upon  his  recollection. 

"  Will  she  go  with  me  ?  "  inquired  poor  Oliver. 

"No,  she  can't,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble.  "But  she'll 
come  and  see  you  sometimes." 

This  was  no  very  great  consolation  to  the  child. 
Young  as  he  was,  however,  he  had  sense  enough  to 
make  a  feint  of  feeling  great  regret  at  going  away.  It 
was  no  very  difficult  matter  for  the  boy  to  call  the  tears 
into  his  eyes.  Hunger  and  recent  ill-usage  are  great 
assistants  if  you  want  to  cry ;  and  Oliver  cried  very 
naturally  indeed.  Mrs.  Mann  gave  him  a  thousand 
embraces,  and,  what  Oliver  wanted  a  great  deal  more, 
a  piece  of  bread  and  butter,  lest  he  should  seem  too  hun- 
gry when  he  got  to  the  workhouse.  With  the  slice  of 
bread  in  his  hand,  and  the  little  brown-cloth  parish  cap 
on  his  head,  Oliver  was  then  led  away  by  Mr.  Bumble 
from  the  wretched  home  where  one  kind  word  or  look 
had  never  lighted  the  gloom  of  his  infant  years.  And 
yet  he  burst  into  an  agony  of  childish  grief,  as  the  cot- 
tage-gate closed  after  him.  Wretched  as  were  the  little 
companions  in  misery  he  was  leaving  behind,  they  were 
the  only  friends  he  had  ever  known  ;  and  a  sense  of  his 
loneliness  in  the  great  wide  world,  sank  into  the  child's 
heart  for  the  first  time. 

Mr.  Bumble  walked  on  with  long  strides ;  little  Oliver, 
firmly  grasping  his  gold-laced  cuff,  trotted  beside  him  : 
inquiring  at  the  end  of  every  quarter  of  a  mile  whether 
they  were  "  nearly  there."  To  these  interrogations,  Mr. 
Bumble  returned  very  brief  and  snappish  replies  ;  for 
the  temporary  blandness  which  gin-and-water  awakens 
in  some  bosoms  had  by  this  time  evaporated :  and  he 
was  once  again  a  beadle. 


30  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Oliver  had  not  been  within  the  walls  of  the  workhouse 
a  quarter  of  an  hour ;  and  had  scarcely  completed  the 
demolition  of  a  second  slice  of  bread ;  when  Mr.  Bum- 
ble, who  had  handed  him  over  to  the  care  of  an  old 
woman,  returned  ;  and,  telling  him  it  was  a  board  night, 
informed  him  that  the  board  had  said  he  was  to  appear 
before  it  forthwith. 

Not  having  a  very  clearly  defined  notion  of  what  a 
live  board  was,  Oliver  was  rather  astounded  by  this 
intelligence,  and  was  not  quite  certain  whether  he  ought 
to  laugh  or  cry.  He  had  no  time  to  think  about  the  mat- 
ter, however ;  for  Mr.  Bumble  gave  him  a  tap  on  the 
head  with  his  cane,  to  wake  him  up ;  and  another  on  the 
back  to  make  him  lively ;  and  bidding  him  follow,  con- 
ducted him  into  a  large  whitewashed  room,  where  eight 
or  ten  fat  gentlemen  were  sitting  round  a  table.  At  the 
top  of  the  table,  seated  in  an  arm-chair  rather  higher 
than  the  rest,  was  a  particularly  fat  gentleman,  with  a 
very  round,  red  face. 

"  Bow  to  the  board,"  said  Bumble.  Ohver  brushed 
away  two  or  three  tears  that  were  lingering  in  his  eyes  ; 
and  seeing  no  board  but  the  table,  fortunately  bowed  to  that. 

"  What's  your  name,  boy  ?  "  said  the  gentleman  in  the 
high  chair. 

Oliver  was  frightened  at  the  sight  of  so  many  gentle- 
men, which  made  him  tremble  ;  and  the  beadle  gave  him 
another  tap  behind,  which  made  him  cry.  These  two 
causes  made  him  answer  in  a  very  low  and  hesitating 
voice  ;  whereupon  a  gentleman  in  a  white  waistcoat  said 
he  was  a  fool.  Which  was  a  capital  way  of  raising  his 
spirits,  and  putting  him  quite  at  his  ease. 

"  Boy,"  said  the  gentleman  in  the  high  chair,  "  Hsten 
to  me.     You  know  you're  an  orphan,  I  suppose  ?  " 


OLIVER  TWIST.  31 

"  What's  that,  sir  ?  "  inquired  poor  Oliver. 

"  The  boy  is  a  fool  —  I  thought  he  was,"  said  the  gen- 
tleman in  the  white  waistcoat. 

"  Hush ! "  said  the  gentleman  who  had  spoken  first. 
"You  know  you've  got  no  father  or  mother,  and  that 
you  were  brought  up  by  the  parish,  don't  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Oliver,  weeping  bitterly. 

"  What  are  you  crying  for  ?  "  inquired  the  gentleman 
ill  the  white  waistcoat.  And  to  be  sure  it  was  very 
extraordinary.     What  could  the  boy  be  crying  for  ? 

"  I  hope  you  say  your  prayers  every  night,"  said  an- 
other gentleman  in  a  gruff  voice ;  "  and  pray  for  the 
people  who  feed  you,  and  take  care  of  you  —  like  a 
Christian." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  stammered  the  boy.  The  gentleman  who 
spoke  last  was  unconsciously  right.  It  would  have  been 
veri/  like  a  Christian,  and  a  marvellously  good  Christian 
too,  if  Oliver  had  prayed  for  the  people  who  fed  and 
took  care  of  him.  But  he  hadn't,  because  nobody  had 
taught  him. 

"  Well !  You  have  come  here  to  be  educated,  and 
taught  a  useful  trade,"  said  the  red-faced  gentleman  in 
the  high  chair. 

"  So  you'll  begin  to  pick  oakum  to-morrow  morning  at 
six  o'clock,"  added  the  surly  one  in  the  white  waistcoat. 

For  the  combination  of  both  these  blessings  in  the  one 
simple  process  of  picking  oakum,  Oliver  bowed  low  by 
the  direction  of  the  beadle,  and  was  then  hurried  away 
to  a  large  ward :  where,  on  a  rough  hard  bed,  he  sobbed 
himself  to  sleep.  What  a  noble  illustration  of  the  tender 
laws  of  England  !     They  let  the  paupers  go  to  sleep  ! 

Poor  Oliver !  He  little  thought,  as  he  lay  sleeping 
in  happy  unconsciousness  of  all  around  him,  that  the 


32  OLIVER  TWIST. 

board  had  that  very  day  arrived  at  a  decision  which 
would  exercise  the  most  material  influence  over  all  his 
future  fortunes.     But  they  had.     And  this  was  it :  — 

The  members  of  this  board  were  very  sage,  deep, 
philosophical  men;  and  when  they  came  to  turn  their 
attention  to  the  workhouse,  they  found  out  at  once,  what 
ordinary  folks  would  never  have  discovered  —  the  poor 
people  like  it !  It  was  a  regular  place  of  public  enter- 
tainment for  the  poorer  classes;  a  tavern  where  there 
was  nothing  to  pay ;  a  public  breakfast,  dinner,  tea,  and 
supper  all  the  year  round ;  a  brick  and  mortar  elysium, 
where  it  was  all  play  and  no  work.  "  Oho ! "  said  the 
board,  looking  very  knowing ;  "  we  are  the  fellows  to  set 
this  to  rights ;  we'll  stop  it  all,  in  no  time."  So,  they 
estabhshed  the  rule,  that  all  poor  people  should  have  the 
alternative  (for  they  would  compel  nobody,  not  they) 
of  being  starved  by  a  gradual  process  in  the  house,  or 
by  a  quick  one  out  of  it.  With  this  view,  they  con- 
tracted with  the  waterworks  to  lay  on  an  unlimited  sup- 
ply of  water ;  and  with  a  corn-factor  to  supply  period- 
ically small  quantities  of  oatmeal ;  and  issued  three  meals 
of  thin  gruel  a  day,  with  an  onion  twice  a  week,  and  half 
a  roll  on  Sundays.  They  made  a  great  many  other  wise 
and  humane  regulations,  having  reference  to  the  ladies, 
which  it  is  not  necessary  to  repeat;  kindly  undertook 
to  divorce  poor  married  people,  in  consequence  of  the 
great  expense  of  a  suit  in  Doctors'  Commons  ;  and,  in- 
stead of  compelling  a  man  to  support  his  family,  as  they 
had  theretofore  done,  took  his  family  away  from  him 
and  made  him  a  bachelor !  There  is  no  saying  how 
many  applicants  for  relief  under  these  last  two  heads 
might  have  started  up  in  all  clashes  of  society,  if  it  had 
not  been  coupled  with  the  workhouse;    but  the  board 


OLIVER  TWIST.  33 

were  long-headed  men,  and  had  provided  for  this  diffi- 
culty. The  relief  was  inseparable  from  the  workhouse 
and  the  gruel ;  and  that  frightened  people. 

For  the  first  six  months  after  Oliver  Twist  was  re- 
moved, the  system  was  in  full  operation.  It  was  rather 
expei  ?i  e  at  first,  in  consequence  of  the  increase  in  the 
undertaker's  bill,  and  the  necessity  of  taking  in  the 
clothes  of  all  the  paupers,  which  fluttered  loosely  on 
taeir  wasted,  shrunken  forms,  after  a  w^eek  or  two's 
gruel.  But  the  number  of  workhouse  inmates  got  thin 
as  well  as  the  paupers ;  and  the  board  were  in  ecstasies. 

The  room  in  which  the  boys  were  fed,  was  a  large 
stone  hall,  with  a  copper  at  one  end :  out  of  which  the 
master,  dressed  in  an  apron  for  the  purpose,  and  assisted 
by  one  or  two  women,  ladled  the  gruel  at  meal-times. 
Of  this  festive  composition,  each  boy  had  one  porringer, 
and  no  more  —  except  on  occasions  of  great  public  re- 
joicing, when  he  had  two  ounces  and  a  quarter  of  bread 
besides.  The  bowls  never  wanted  washing.  The  boys 
polished  them  with  their  spoons  till  they  shone  again  ; 
and  when  they  had  performed  this  operation,  (which 
never  took  very  long,  the  spoons  being  nearly  as  large 
as  the  bowls.)  they  would  sit  staring  at  the  copper,  with 
such  eager  eyes,  as  if  they  could  have  devoured  the  very 
bricks  of  which  it  was  composed  ;  employing  themselves, 
meanwhile,  in  sucking  their  fingers  most  assiduously, 
with  the  view  of  catching  up  any  stray  splashes  of  gruel 
that  might  have  been  cast  thereon.  Boys  have  generally 
excellent  appetites.  Oliver  Twist  and  his  companions 
suffered  the  tortures  of  slow  starvation  for  three  months : 
at  last  they  got  so  voracious  and  wild  with  hunger,  that 
one  boy,  who  was  tall  for  his  age,  and  hadn't  been  used 
to  that  sort  of  thing,  (for  his  father  had  kept  a  small 


34  OLIVER  TWIST. 

cook's  shop,)  hinted  darkly  to  his  companions,  that  un- 
less lie  had  another  basin  of  gruel  per  diem,  he  was 
afraid  he  might  some  night  happen  to  eat  the  boy  who 
slept  next  him,  who  happened  to  be  a  weakly  youth  of 
tender  age.  He  had  a  wild,  hungry  eye ;  and  they  im- 
plicitly believed  him.  A  council  was  held;  lots  were 
cast  who  should  walk  up  to  the  master  after  supper  that 
evening,  and  ask  for  more  ;  and  it  fell  to  Oliver  Twist. 

The  evening  arrived ;  the  boys  took  their  places.  The 
master,  in  his  cook's  ui;iform,  stationed  himself  at  the 
copper  ;  his  pauper  assistants  ranged  themselves  behind 
him  ;  the  gruel  was  served  out ;  and  a  long  grace  was 
said  over  the  short  commons.  The  gruel  disappeared ; 
the  boys  whispered  each  other,  and  winked  at  Oliver; 
while  his  next  neighbors  nudged  him.  Child  as  he  was, 
he  was  desperate  with  hunger,  and  reckless  with  misery. 
He  rose  from  the  table ;  and  advancing  to  the  master, 
basin  and  spoon  in  hand,  said,  somewhat  alarmed  at  his 
own  temerity,  — 

"  Please,  sir,  I  want  some  more." 

The  master  was  a  fat,  healthy  man ;  but  he  turned 
very  pale.  He  gazed  in  stupefied  astonishment  on  the 
small  rebel  for  some  seconds ;  and  then  clung  for  support 
to  the  copper.  The  assistants  were  paralyzed  with  won- 
der ;  the  boys  with  fear. 

"  What ! "  said  the  master  at  length,  in  a  faint  voice. 

"  Please,  sir,"  replied  Oliver,  "  I  want  some  more.'* 

The  master  aimed  a  blow  at  Oliver's  head  with  the 
ladle ;  pinioned  him  in  his  arms ;  and  shrieked  aloud  for 
the  beadle. 

The  board  were  sitting  in  solemn  conclave,  when  Mr. 
Bumble  rushed  into  the  room  in  great  excitement,  and 
addressing  the  gentleman  in  the  high  chair,  said,  — 


OLIVER   TWIST.  35 

"  Mr.  Limbkins,  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir !  Oliver  Twist 
has  asked  for  more  ! " 

There  was  a  general  start.  Horror  was  depicted  on 
every  countenance. 

"  For  more  !  "  said  Mr.  Limbkins.  "  Compose  your- 
self Bumble,  and  answer  me  distinctly.  Do  I  under- 
stand that  he  asked  for  more,  after  he  had  eaten  the  sup- 
per allotted  by  the  dietary  ?  " 

"  He  did,  sir,"  replied  Bumble. 

"  That  boy  will  be  hung,"  said  the  gentleman  in  the 
white  waistcoat.     "  I  know^  that  boy  will  be  hung." 

Nobody  controverted  the  prophetic  gentleman's  opin- 
ion. An  animated  discussion  took  place.  Oliver  was 
ordered  into  instant  confinement :  and  a  bill  was  next 
morning  pasted  on  the  outside  of  the  gate,  offering  a 
reward  of  five  pounds  to  anybody  who  would  take  Oliver 
Twist  off  the  hands  of  the  parish.  In  other  words,  five 
pounds  and  Ohver  Twist  were  offered  to  any  man  or 
woman  who  wanted  an  apprentice  to  any  trade,  business, 
or  calling. 

'•  I  never  was  more  convinced  of  anything  in  my  hfe," 
said  the  gentleman  in  the  white  waistcoat,  as  he  knocked 
at  the  gate  and  read  the  bill  next  morning  :  "  I  never 
was  more  convinced  of  anything  in  my  life,  than  I  am 
that  that  boy  will  come  to  be  hung." 

As  I  purpose  to  show  in  the  sequel  whether  the  white- 
waistcoated  gentleman  was  right  or  not,  I  should  perhaps 
mar  the  interest  of  this  narrative  (supposing  it  to  possess 
any  at  all),  if  I  ventured  to  hint,  just  yet,  whether  the 
life  of  Oliver  Twist  had  this  violent  termination  or  no. 


36  OLIVEK  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  III. 

RELATES  HOW  OLIVER  TWIST  WAS  VERY  NEAR  GET- 
TING A  PLACE,  WHICH  WOULD  NOT  HAVE  BEEN  A 
SINECURE. 

For  a  week  after  the  commission  of  the  impious  and 
profane  offence  of  asking  for  more,  Oliver  remained  a 
close  prisoner  in  the  dark  and  solitary  room  to  which  he 
had  been  consigned  by  the  wisdom  and  mercy  of  the 
board.  It  appears,  at  first  sight,  not  unreasonable  to 
suppose,  that,  if  he  had  entertained  a  becoming  feeling 
of  respect  for  the  prediction  of  the  gentleman  in  the 
white  waistcoat,  he  would  have  established  that  sage 
individual's  prophetic  character,  once  and  forever,  by 
tying  one  end  of  his  pocket-handkerchief  to  a  hook  in 
the  wall,  and  attaching  himself  to  the  other.  To  the 
performance  of  this  feat,  however,  there  was  one  ob- 
stacle :  namely,  that  pocket-handkerchiefs,  being  decided 
articles  of  luxury,  had  been,  for  all  future  times  and  ages, 
removed  from  the  noses  of  paupers  by  the  express  order 
of  the  board,  in  council  assembled :  solemnly  given  and 
pronounced  under  their  hands  and  seals.  There  was  a 
still  greater  obstacle  in  Oliver's  youth  and  childishness. 
He  only  cried  bitterly  all  day ;  and  when  the  long,  dis- 
mal night  came  on,  he  spread  his  little  hands  before  his 
eyes  to  shut  out  the  darkness,  and   crouching   in   the 


OLIVER  TWIST.  37 

corner,  tried  to  sleep  :  ever  and  anon  waking  with  a  start 
and  tremble,  and  drawing  himself  closer  and  closer  to  the 
wall,  as  if  to  feel  even  its  cold  hard  surface  were  a  pro- 
tection in  the  gloom  and  loneliness  which  surrounded  him. 

Let  it  not  be  supposed  by  the  enemies  of  "  the  sys- 
tem," that,  during  the  period  of  his  solitary  incarceration, 
Oliver  was  denied  the  benefit  of  exercise,  the  pleasure  of 
society,  or  the  advantages  of  religious  consolation.  As 
for  exercise,  it  was  nice  cold  weather,  and  he  was  allowed 
to  perform  bis  ablutions  every  morning  under  the  pump, 
in  a  stone  yard,  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Bumble,  who 
prevented  his  catching  cold,  and  caused  a  tingling  sensa- 
tion to  pervade  his  frame,  by  repeated  applications  of 
the  cane.  As  for  society,  he  was  carried  every  other 
day  into  the  hall  where  the  boys  dined,  and  there  sociably 
flogged  as  a  public  warning  and  example.  And  so  far 
from  being  denied  the  advantages  of  religious  consola- 
tion, he  was  kicked  into  the  same  apartment  every  even- 
ing at  prayer-time,  and  there  permitted  to  listen  to,  and 
console  his  mind  with,  a  general  supplication  of  the  boys, 
containing  a  special  clause,  therein  inserted  by  authority 
of  the  board,  in  which  they  entreated  to  be  made  good, 
virtuous,  contented,  and  obedient,  and  to  be  guarded 
from  the  sins  and  vices  of  Oliver  Twist :  whom  the  sup- 
plication distinctly  set  forth  to  be  under  the  exclusive 
patronage  and  protection  of  the  powers  of  wickedness, 
and  an  article  direct  from  the  manufactory  of  the  very 
Devil  himself. 

It  chanced  one  morning,  while  Oliver's  affairs  were  in 
this  auspicious  and  comfortable  state,  that  Mr.  Gamfield, 
chimney-sweeper,  was  wending  his  way  down  the  High 
Street,  deeply  cogitating  in  his  mind  his  ways  and  means 
of  paying  certain  arrears  of  rent,  for  which  his  landlord 


38  OLIVER  TWIST. 

had  become  rather  pressing.  Mr.  Gamfield's  most  san- 
guine estimate  of  his  finances  could  not  raise  them 
within  full  five  pounds  of  the  desired  amount ;  and  in  a 
species  of  arithmetical  desperation,  he  was  alternately 
cudgelling  his  brains  and  his  donkey,  when,  passing  the 
workhouse,  his  eyes  encountered  the  bill  on  the  gate. 

"Wo — o  !"  said  Mr.  Gamfield  to  the  donkey. 

The  donkey  was  in  a  state  of  profound  abstraction : 
wondering,  probably,  whether  he  was  destined  to  be 
regaled  with  a  cabbage-stalk  or  two  when  he  had  dis- 
posed of  the  two  sacks  of  soot  with  which  the  little  cart 
was  laden ;  so,  without  noticing  the  word  of  command, 
he  jogged  onward. 

Mr.  Gamfield  growled  a  fierce  imprecation  on  the 
donkey  generally,  but  more  particularly  on  his  eyes ;  and 
running  after  him,  bestowed  a  blow  on  his  head,  which 
would  inevitably  have  beaten  in  any  skull  but  a  donkey's. 
Then,  catching  hold  of  the  bridle,  he  gave  his  jaw  a  sharp 
wrench,  by  way  of  gentle  reminder  that  he  was  not  his 
own  master;  and  by  these  means  turned  him  round. 
He  then  gave  him  another  blow  on  the  head,  just  to  stun 
him  till  he  came  back  again.  Having  completed  these 
arrangements,  he  walked  up  to  the  gate,  to  read  the 
bill. 

The  gentleman  with  the  white  waistcoat  was  standing 
at  the  gate,  with  his  hands  behind  him,  after  having  de- 
livered himself  of  some  profound  sentiments  in  the  board- 
room. Having  witnessed  the  little  dispute  between  Mr. 
Gamfield  and  the  donkey,  he  smiled  joyously  when  tliat 
person  came  up  to  read  the  bill,  for  he  saw  at  once  that 
Mr.  Gamfield  was  exactly  the  sort  of  master  Oliver 
Twist  wanted.  Mr.  Gamfield  smiled,  too,  as  he  perused 
the  document;  for  five  pounds  was  just  the  sum  he  had 


OLIVER  TWIST.  39 

been  wisliing  for ;  and,  as  to  the  boy  with  which  it  was 
encumbered,  Mr.  Gamfield,  knowing  what  the  dietary 
of  the  workhouse  was,  well  knew  he  would  be  a  nice 
small  pattern,  just  the  very  thing  for  register  stoves.  So 
he  spelt  the  bill  through  again,  from  beginning  to  end ; 
and  then,  touching  his  fur  cap  in  token  of  humility,  ac- 
costed the  gentleman  in  the  white  waistcoat. 

"  This  here  boy,  sir,  wot  the  parish  wants  to  'prentis," 
said  INIr.  Gamfield. 

"  Ay,  my  man,"  said  the  gentleman  in  the  white  waist- 
coat, with  a  condescending  smile.     "  What  of  him  ?  " 

"  If  the  parish  vould  like  him  to  learn  a  light  pleasant 
trade,  in  a  good  'spectable  chimbley-sweepin'  bis'ness," 
said  Mr.  Gamfield,  "I  wants  a  'prentis,  and  I'm  ready- 
to  take  him." 

"  Walk  in,"  said  the  gentleman  in  the  white  waistcoat. 
Mr.  Gamfield  having  lingered  behind,  to  give  the  donkey 
another  blow  on  the  head,  and  another  wrench  of  the 
jaw,  as  a  caution  not  to  run  away  in  his  absence,  fol- 
lowed the  gentleman  with  the  white  waistcoat  into  the 
room  where  Oliver  had  first  seen  him. 

"  It's  a  nasty  trade,"  said  Mr.  Limbkins  when  Gamfield 
had  again  stated  his  wish. 

"  Young  boys  have  been  smothered  in  chimneys  before 
now,"  said  another  gentleman. 

"  That's  acause  they  damped  the  straw  afore  they  lit 
it  in  the  chimbley  to  make  'em  come  down  agin,"  said 
Gamfield  ;  "  that's  all  smoke,  and  no  blaze ;  vereas  smoke 
a'n't  o'  no  use  at  all  in  makin'  a  boy  come  down,  for  it 
only  sinds  him  to  sleep,  and  that's  wot  he  likes.  Boys 
is  wery  obstinit,  and  wery  lazy,  gen'l'men,  and  there's 
nothink  like  a  good  hot  blaze  to  make  'em  come  down 
vith  a  run.     It's  humane  too,  gen'l'men,  acause,  even  if 


40  OLIVER  TWIST. 

they've  stuck  in  the  chimbley,  roasting  their  feet  makes 
'em  struggle  to  hextricate  theirselves." 

The  gentleman  in  the  white  waistcoat  appeared  very 
much  amused  by  this  explanation;  but  his  mirth  was 
speedily  checked  by  a  look  from  Mr.  Limbkins.  The 
board  then  proceeded  to  converse  among  themselves  for 
a  few  minutes,  but  in  so  low  a  tone,  that  the  words 
"  saving  of  expenditure,"  "  look  well  in  the  accounts," 
"  have  a  printed  report  published,"  were  alone  audible. 
These  only  chanced  to  be  heard,  indeed,  on  account  of 
their  being  very  frequently  repeated  with  great  emphasis. 

At  length  the  whispering  ceased;  and  the  members 
of  the  board,  having  resumed  their  seats  and  their  so- 
lemnity, Mr.  Limbkins  said : 

"  We  have  considered  your  proposition,  and  we  don't 
approve  of  it." 

"  Not  at  all,"  said  the  gentleman  in  the  white  waist- 
coat. 

"  Decidedly  not,"  added  the  other  members. 

As  Mr.  Gamfield  did  happen  to  labor  under  the  slight 
imputation  of  having  bruised  three  or  four  boys  to  death 
already,  it  occurred  to  him  that  the  board  had,  perhaps, 
in  some  unaccountable  freak,  taken  it  into  their  heads 
that  this  extraneous  circumstance  ought  to  influence  their 
proceedings.  It  was  very  unlike  their  general  mode  of 
doing  business,  if  they  had ;  but  still,  as  he  had  no  par- 
ticular wish  to  revive  the  rumor,  he  twisted  his  cap  in 
his  hands,  and  walked  slowly  from  the  table. 

"  So  you  won't  let  me  have  him,  gen'l'men  ?  "  said  Mr. 
Gamfield,  pausing  near  the  door. 

"  No,"  replied  Mr.  Limbkins  ;  "  at  least,  as  it's  a  nasty 
business,  we  think  you  ought  to  take  something  less 
than  the  premium  we  offered." 


OLIVER  TWIST.  41 

Mr.  Gamfield's  countenance  brightened,  as,  with  a 
quick  step,  he  returned  to  the  table,  and  said, — 

"  "SVhat'll  you  give,  genTmen  ?  Come  !  Don't  be  too 
hard  on  a  poor  man.     What'U  you  give  ?" 

"  I  should  say,  three  pound  ten  was  plenty,"  said  Mr. 
Limbkins. 

"  Ten  shillings  too  much,"  said  the  gentleman  in  the 
white  waistcoat. 

"  Come  ! "  said  Gamfield ;  "  say  four  pound,  gen'l'men. 
Say  four  pound,  and  you've  got  rid  on  him  for  good  and 
all.     There ! " 

"  Three  pound  ten,"  repeated  Mr.  Limbkins,  firmly. 

"  Come !  I'll  split  the  difference,  gen'l'men,"  urged 
Gamfield.     "  Three  pound  fifteen." 

"  Not  a  farthing  more,"  was  the  firm  reply  of  Mr. 
Limbkins. 

"You're  desperate  hard  upon  me,  gen'l'men,"  said 
Gamfield,  wavering. 

"  Pooh  !  pooh !  nonsense  ! "  said  the  gentleman  in  the 
white  waistcoat.  "  He'd  be  cheap  with  nothing  at  all,  as 
a  premium.  Take  him,  you  silly  fellow !  He's  just 
the  boy  for  you.  He  wants  the  stick,  now  and  then : 
it'll  do  him  good ;  and  his  board  needn't  come  very  ex- 
pensive, for  he  hasn't  been  overfed  since  he  was  born. 
Ha!  ha!  ha!" 

Mr.  Gamfield  gave  an  arch  look  at  the  faces  round 
the  table,  and,  observing  a  smile  on  all  of  them,  grad- 
ually broke  into  a  smile  himself.  The  bargain  was  made. 
Mr.  Bumble  was  at  once  instructed  that  Oliver  Twist 
and  his  indentures  were  to  be  conveyed  before  the 
magistrate,  for  signature  and  approval,  that  very  after- 
noon. 

In  pursuance  of  this  determination,  little  Oliver,  to  his 


42  OLIVER  TWIST. 

excessive  astonishment,  was  released  from  bondage,  and 
ordered  to  put  himself  into  a  clean  shirt.  He  had  hardly 
achieved  this  very  unusual  gymnastic  performance,  when 
Mr.  Bumble  brought  him,  with  his  own  hands,  a  basin 
of  gruel,  and  the  holiday  allowance  of  two  ounces  and  a 
quarter  of  bread.  At  this  tremendous  sight,  Ohver  be- 
gan to  cry  very  piteously:  thinking,  not  unnaturally,  that 
the  board  must  have  determined  to  kill  him  for  some 
useful  purpose,  or  they  never  would  have  begun  to  fatten 
him  up  in  that  way. 

"  Don't  make  your  eyes  red,  Oliver,  but  eat  your  food 
and  be  thankful,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  in  a  tone  of  impres- 
sive pomposity.  ''  You're  a-going  to  be  made  a  'prentice 
of,  Oliver." 

"  A  'prentice,  sir ! "  said  the  child,  trembling. 

"Yes,  Oliver,"  said  Mr.  Bumble.  "The  kind  and 
blessed  gentlemen  which  is  so  many  parents  to  you, 
Oliver,  when  you  have  none  of  your  own  :  are  a-going 
to  'prentice  you :  and  to  set  you  up  in  life,  and  make  a 
man  of  you :  although  the  expense  to  the  parish  is  three 
pound  ten  !  —  three  pound  ten,  Oliver  !  —  seventy  shil- 
lin's  — one  hundred  and  forty  sixpences  !  —  and  all  for  a 
naughty  orphan  which  nobody  can't  love." 

As  Mr.  Bumble  paused  to  take  breath,  after  deliver- 
ing this  address  in  an  awful  voice,  the  tears  rolled  down 
the  poor  child's  face,  and  he  sobbed  bitterly. 

"  Come,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  somewhat  less  pompously, 
for  it  was  gratifying  to  his  feelings  to  observe  the  effect 
his  eloquence  had  produced ;  —  "  Come,  Oliver !  Wipe 
your  eyes  with  the  cuffs  of  your  jacket,  and  don't  cry 
into  30ur  gruel ;  that's  a  very  foolish  action,  Oliver."  It 
certainly  was,  for  there  was  quite  enough  water  in  it 
already. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  43 

On  their  wrj  to  the  magistrate,  Mr.  Bumble  instructed 
OHver  that  all  he  would  have  to  do  would  be  to  look 
very  happy,  and  say,  when  the  gentleman  asked  him  if 
he  wanted  to  be  apprenticed,  that  he  should  like  it  very 
much  indeed  ;  both  of  which  injunctions  Oliver  promised 
to  obey :  the  rather  as  Mr.  Bumble  threw  in  a  gentle 
hint,  that  if  he  failed  in  either  particular,  there  was  no 
telling  what  would  be  done  to  him.  When  they  arrived 
at  the  office,  he  was  shut  up  in  a  little  room  by  himself, 
and  admonished  by  Mr.  Bumble  to  stay  there,  until  he 
came  back  to  fetch  him. 

There  the  boy  remained,  with  a  palpitating  heart,  for 
half  an  hour.  At  the  expiration  of  which  time  Mr. 
Bumble  thrust  in  his  head,  unadorned  with  the  cocked- 
hat,  and  said  aloud  : 

"  Xow,  Oliver,  my  dear,  come  to  the  gentleman."  As 
Mr.  Bumble  said  this,  he  put  on  a  grim  and  threatening 
look,  and  added,  in  a  low  voice,  "  Mind  what  I  told  you, 
you  young  rascal !  " 

Oliver  stared  innocently  in  Mr.  Bumble's  face  at  this 
somewhat  contradictory  style  of  address  ;  but  that  gen- 
tleman prevented  his  offering  any  remark  thereupon,  by 
leading  him  at  once  into  an  adjoining  room  :  the  door 
of  which  was  open.  It  was  a  large  room,  with  a  great 
window.  Behind  a  desk  sat  two  old  gentlemen  with 
powdered  heads  :  one  of  whom  was  reading  the  news- 
paper ;  while  the  other  was  perusing,  with  the  aid  of  a 
pair  of  tortoise-shell  spectacles,  a  small  piece  of  parch- 
ment which  lay  before  him.  Mr.  Limbkins  was  standing 
in  front  of  the  desk  on  one  side  ;  and  Mr.  Gamfield,  with 
a  partially  washed  face,  on  the  other ;  while  two  or  three 
bluff-looking  men,  in  top-boots,  were  lounging  about. 

The  old  gentleman  with  the  spectacles  gradually  dozed 


44  OLIVER  TWIST. 

off,  over  the  little  bit  of  parchment ;  and  there  was  a 
short  pause,  after  Oliver  had  been  stationed  by  Mr. 
Bumble  in  front  of  the  desk. 

"  This  is  the  boy,  your  worship,"  said  Mr.  Bumble. 

The  old  gentleman  who  was  reading  the  newspaper 
raised  his  head  for  a  moment,  and  pulled  the  other  old 
gentleman  by  the  sleeve  ;  whereupon  the  last-mentioned 
old  gentleman  woke  up. 

"  Oh,  is  this  the  boy  ?  "  said  the  old  gentleman. 

"  This  is  him,  sir,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble.  "  Bow  to  the 
magistrate,  my  dear." 

Oliver  roused  himself,  and  made  his  best  obeisance. 
He  had  been  wondering,  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  mag- 
istrates' powder,  whether  all  boards  were  born  with  that 
white  stuff  on  their  heads,  and  were  boards  from  thence- 
forth on  that  account. 

"  Well,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  "  I  suppose  he's  fond 
of  chimney-sweeping  ?  " 

"  He  doats  on  it,  your  worship,"  replied  Bumble  :  giv- 
ing Oliver  a  sly  pinch,  to  intimate  that  he  had  better  not 
say  he  didn't. 

"  And  he  will  be  a  sweep,  will  he  ?  "  inquired  the  old 
gentleman. 

"  If  we  was  to  bind  him  to  any  other  trade  to-mor- 
row, he'd  run  away  simultaneous,  your  worship,"  replied 
Bumble. 

"  And  this  man  that's  to  be  his  master  —  you,  sir  — 
you'll  treat  him  well,  and  feed  him,  and  do  all  that  sort 
of  thing,  —  will  you  ?  "  said  the  old  gentleman. 

"  When  I  says  I  will,  I  means  I  will,"  replied  Mr. 
Gamfield  doggedly. 

"  You're  a  rough  speaker,  my  friend,  but  you  look  an 
honest,  open-hearted  man,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  turn- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  45 

ing  Ills  spectacles  in  the  direction  of  the  candidate  for 
Oliver's  premium,  whose  villanous  countenance  was  a 
regular  stamped  receipt  for  cruelty.  But,  the  magistrate 
was  half  blind  and  half  childish,  so  he  couldn't  reasona- 
bly be  expected  to  discern  what  other  people  did. 

"I  hope  I  am,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Gamfield,  with  an  ugly  leer. 

"  I  liave  no  doubt  you  are,  my  friend,"  replied  the  old 
gentleman :  fixing  his  spectacles  more  firmly  on  his  nose, 
and  looking  about  him  for  the  inkstand. 

It  was  the  critical  moment  of  Oliver's  fate.  If  the 
inkstand  had  been  where  the  old  gentleman  thought  it 
was,  he  would  have  dipped  his  pen  into  it,  and  signed 
the  indentures  :  and  Oliver  would  have  been  straight- 
way hurried  off.  But,  as  it  chanced  to  be  immediately 
under  his  nose,  it  followed,  as  a  matter  of  course,  that 
he  looked  all  over  his  desk  for  it,  without  finding  it ; 
and  happening  in  the  course  of  his  search  to  look 
straight  before  him,  his  gaze  encountered  the  pale  and 
terrified  face  of  Oliver  Twist :  who,  despite  all  the  ad- 
monitory looks  and  pinches  of  Bumble,  was  regarding 
the  repulsive  countenance  of  his  future  master,  with  a 
mingled  expression  of  horror  and  fear,  too  palpable  to 
be  mistaken,  even  by  a  half-blind  magistrate. 

The  old  gentleman  stopped,  laid  down  his  pen,  and 
looked  from  Oliver  to  Mr.  Limbkins :  who  attempted  to 
take  snuff  with  a  cheerful  and  unconcerned  aspect. 

"  My  boy  ! "  said  the  old  gentleman,  leaning  over  the 
desk.  OHver  started  at  the  sound.  He  might  be  ex- 
cused for  doing  so  ;  for  the  words  were  kindly  said ;  and 
strange  sounds  frighten  one.  He  trembled  violently, 
and  burst  into  tears. 

"  My  boy  !  "  said  the  old  gentleman,  "  you  look  pale 
and  alarmed.     What  is  the  matter?" 


46  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Stand  a  little  away  from  him,  Beadle,"  said  the  other 
magistrate,  laying  aside  the  paper,  and  leaning  forward 
with  an  expression  of  interest.  ••'  Now,  boy,  tell  us  what's 
the  matter  :  don't  be  afraid." 

Oliver  fell  on  his  knees,  and  clasping  his  hands  to- 
gether, prayed  that  they  would  order  him  back  to  the 
dark  room  —  that  they  would  starve  him  —  beat  him  — 
kill  him  if  they  pleased  —  rather  than  send  him  away 
with  that  dreadful  man. 

"  Well ! "  said  Mr.  Bumble,  raising  his  hands  and  eyes 
with  most  impressive  solemnity,  —  "  well,  of  all  the  artful 
and  designing  orphans  that  ever  I  see,  Oliver,  you  are 
one  of  the  most  barefacedest." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  Beadle,"  said  the  second  old  gen- 
tleman, when  ]Mr.  Bumble  had  given  vent  to  this  com- 
pound adjective. 

"  I  beg  your  worship's  pardon,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  in- 
credulous of  his  having  heard  aright.  "  Did  your  wor- 
ship speak  to  me  ?  " 

"  Yes.     Hold  your  tongue." 

Mr.  Bumble  was  stupefied  with  astonishment.  A  bea- 
dle ordered  to  hold  his  tongue  !     A  moral  revolution  ! 

The  old  gentleman  in  the  tortoise-shell  spectacles 
looked  at  his  companion  ;  he  nodded  significantly. 

"  We  refuse  to  sanction  these  indentures,"  said  the 
old  gentleman :  tossing  aside  the  piece  of  parchment  as 
he  spoke. 

"  I  hope,"  stammered  Mr.  Limbkins,  —  "I  hope  the 
magistrates  will  not  form  the  opinion  that  the  authorities 
have  been  guilty  of  any  improper  conduct,  on  the  unsup- 
ported testimony  of  a  mere  child." 

"  The  magistrates  are  not  called  upon  to  pronounce 
any  opinion  on  the  matter,"  said  the  second  old  gentle- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  47 

man  sharply.  "  Take  the  boy  back  to  the  workhouse, 
and  treat  him  kindly.     He  seems  to  want  it." 

That  same  evening,  the  gentleman  in  the  white  waist- 
coat most  positively  and  decidedly  affirmed,  not  only  that 
Oliver  would  be  hung,  but  that  he  would  be  drawn  and 
quartered  into  the  bargain.  Mr.  Bumble  shook  his  head 
with  gloomy  mystery,  and  said  he  wished  he  might  come 
to  good  ;  whereunto  Mr.  Gamfield  replied,  that  he  wished 
he  might  come  to  him  ;  which,  although  he  agreed  with 
the  beadle  in  most  matters,  would  seem  to  be  a  wish  of  a 
totally  opposite  description. 

The  next  morning,  the  pubhc  were  once  more  in- 
formed that  Oliver  Twist  was  again  To  Let ;  and  that 
five  pounds  would  be  paid  to  anybody  who  would  take 
possession  of  him. 


48  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  IV 

OLIVER,  BEING  OFFERED   ANOTHER    PLACE,  MAKES  HIS 
FIRST    ENTRY    INTO    PUBLIC    LIFE. 

In  great  families,  when  an  advantageous  place  cannot 
be  obtained,  either  in  possession,  reversion,  remainder,  or 
expectancy,  for  the  young  man  who  is  growing  up,  it  is 
a  very  general  custom  to  send  him  to  sea.  The  board, 
in  imitation  of  so  wise  and  salutary  an  example,  took 
counsel  together  on  the  expediency  of  shipping  off  Oli- 
ver Twist,  in  some  small  trading  vessel  bound  to  a  good 
unhealthy  port ;  which  suggested  itself  as  the  very  best 
thing  that  could  possibly  be  done  with  him  :  the  prob- 
ability being,  that  the  skipper  would  flog  him  to  death,  in 
a  playful  mood,  some  day  after  dinner ;  or  would  knock 
his  brains  out  with  an  iron  bar  ;  both  pastimes  being,  as  is 
pretty  generally  known,  very  favorite  and  common  recrea- 
tions among  gentlemen  of  that  class.  The  more  the  case 
presented  itself  to  the  board,  in  this  point  of  view,  the 
more  manifold  the  advantages  of  the  step  appeared ;  so, 
they  came  to  the  conclusion,  that  the  only  way  of  pro- 
viding for  Oliver  effectually,  was  to  send  him  to  sea 
without  delay. 

Mr.  Bumble  had  been  despatched  to  make  various  pre- 
liminary inquiries,  with  the  view  of  finding  out  some  cap- 
tain or  other  who  wanted  a  cabin-boy  without  any  friends; 


OLIVER  TWIST.  49 

and  was  returning  to  the  workhouse  to  communicate  the 
result  of  his  mission ;  when  he  encountered,  just  at  the 
gate,  no  less  a  person  than  Mr.  Sowerberry,  the  parochial 
undertaker. 

IVlr.  Sowerberry  was  a  tall,  gaunt,  large-jointed  man, 
attired  in  a  suit  of  threadbare  black,  with  darned  cotton 
stockings  of  the  same  color,  and  shoes  to  answer.  His 
features  were  not  naturally  intended  to  wear  a  smiling 
aspect,  but  he  was  in  general  rather  given  to  professional 
jocosity.  His  step  was  elastic,  and  his  face  betokened 
inward  pleasantry,  as  he  advanced  to  Mr.  Bumble,  and 
shook  him  cordially  by  the  hand. 

"  I  have  taken  the  measure  of  the  two  women  that 
died  last  night,  IVIr.  Bumble,"  said  the  undertaker. 

"  You'll  make  your  fortune,  Mr.  Sowerberry,"  said  the 
beadle,  as  he  thrust  his  thumb  and  forefinger  into  the 
proffered  snuflP-box  of  the  undertaker  :  which  was  an 
ingenious  little  model  of  a  patent  coffin.  "  I  say  you'll 
make  your  fortune,  Mr.  Sowerberry,"  repeated  Mr.  Bum- 
ble, tapping  the  undertaker  on  the  shoulder,  in  a  friendly 
manner,  with  his  cane. 

"  Think  so  ?  "  said  the  undertaker  in  a  tone  which  half 
admitted  and  half  disputed  the  probability  of  the  event. 
"  The  prices  allowed  by  the  board  are  very  small,  Mr. 
Bumble." 

"  So  are  the  coffins,"  replied  the  beadle  ;  with  precisely 
as  near  an  approach  to  a  laugh  as  a  great  official  ought 
to  indulge  in. 

Mr.  Sowerberry  was  much  tickled  at  this  :  as  of 
course  he  ought  to  be ;  and  laughed  a  long  time  with- 
out cessation.  "  Well,  well,  Mr.  Bumble,"  he  said  at 
length,  "there's  no  denying  that,  since  the  new  system  of 
feeding  has  come  in,  the  coffins  are  something  narrower 

VOL.  I.  4 


50  OLIYER  TWIST. 

and  more  shallow  than  they  used  to  be ;  but  we  must 
have  some  profit,  Mr.  Bumble.  Well-seasoned  timber 
is  an  expensive  article,  sir ;  and  all  the  iron  handles 
come,  by  canal,  from  Birmingham." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  "  every  trade  has  its 
drawbacks.     A  fair  profit  is,  of  course,  allowable." 

"  Of  course,  of  course,"  replied  the  undertaker  ;  "  and 
if  I  don't  get  a  profit  upon  this  or  that  particular  article, 
why,  I  make  it  up  in  the  long  run,  you  see  —  he  !  he  ! 
he!" 

"  Just  so,"  said  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  Though  I  must  say,"  continued  the  undertaker,  re- 
suming the  current  of  observations  which  the  beadle  had 
interrupted,  —  "  though  I  must  say,  Mr.  Bumble,  that  I 
have  to  contend  against  one  very  great  disadvantage : 
which  is,  that  all  the  stout  people  go  off  the  quickest. 
The  people  who  have  been  better  off,  and  have  paid 
rates  for  many  years,  are  the  first  to  sink  when  they 
come  into  the  house  ;  and  let  me  tell  you,  Mr.  Bumble, 
that  three  or  four  inches  over  one's  calculation  makes  a 
great  hole  in  one's  profits ;  especially  when  one  has  a 
family  to  provide  for,  sir." 

As  Mr.  Sowerberry  said  this,  with  the  becoming  indig- 
nation of  an  ill-used  man ;  and  as  ]Mr.  Bumble  felt  that 
it  rather  tended  to  convey  a  reflection  on  the  honor  of 
the  parish ;  the  latter  gentleman  thought  it  advisable  to 
change  the  subject.  Oliver  Twist  being  uppermost  in 
his  mind,  he  made  him  his  theme. 

"  By-the-by,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  "  you  don't  know  any- 
body who  wants  a  boy,  do  you  ?  A  porochial  'prentice, 
who  is  at  present  a  deadweight ;  a  millstone  as  I  may 
say ;  round  the  porochial  throat  ?  Liberal  terms,  Mr. 
Sowerberry,  liberal  terms  ! "     As  Mr.  Bumble  spoke,  he 


OLIVER  TWIST.  51 

raised  his  cane  to  the  bill  above  him,  and  gave  three  dis- 
tinct raps  upon  the  words  "  five  pounds : "  which  were 
printed  thereon  in  Roman  capitals  of  gigantic  size. 

"  Gadso  !  "  said  the  undertaker,  taking  Mr.  Bumble 
by  the  gilt-edged  lappel  of  his  official  coat ;  "  that's  just 
the  very  thing  I  wanted  to  speak  to  you  about.  You 
know  —  dear  me,  what  a  very  elegant  button  this  is,  Mr. 
Bumble  !     I  never  noticed  it  before." 

"  Yes,  I  think  it  is  rather  pretty,"  said  the  beadle, 
glancing  proudly  downwards  at  the  large  brass  buttons 
which  embellished  his  coat.  "  The  die  is  the  same  as 
the  porochial  seal  —  the  Good  Samaritan  healing  the 
sick  and  bruised  man.  The  board  presented  it  to  me  on 
New-year's  morning,  Mr.  Sowerberry.  I  put  it  on,  I 
remember,  for  the  first  time,  to  attend  the  inquest  on 
that  reduced  tradesman,  who  died  in  a  doorway  at  mid- 
night." 

"  I  recollect,"  said  the  undertaker.  "  The  jury  brought 
it  in,  '  Died  from  exposure  to  the  cold,  and  want  of  the 
common  necessaries  of  life,'  didn't  they  ?  " 

Mr.  Bumble  nodded. 

"  And  they  made  it  a  special  verdict,  I  think,"  said 
the  undertaker,  "by  adding  some  words  to  the  effect, 
that  if  the  relieving  officer  had " 

"  Tush  !  Foolery  ! "  interposed  the  beadle.  "  If  the 
board  attended  to  all  the  nonsense  that  ignorant  jurymen" 
talk,  they'd  have  enough  to  do." 

"  Very  true,"  said  the  undertaker ;  "  they  would  in- 
deed." 

"  Juries,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  grasping  his  cane  tightly, 
as  was  his  wont  when  working  into  a  passion  :  "juries  is 
ineddicated,  vulgar,  grovelling  wretches." 

"  So  they  are,"  said  the  undertaker. 


J,   OF    iLi—    u.ib. 


52  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  They  haven't  no  more  philosophy  nor  political  econ- 
omy about  'em  than  that,"  said  the  beadle,  snapping  his 
fingers  contemptuously. 

"  No  more  they  have,"  acquiesced  the  undertaker. 

"  I  despise  'em,"  said  the  beadle,  growing  very  red  in 
the  face. 

"  So  do  I,"  rejoined  the  undertaker. 

"  And  I  only  wish  we'd  a  jury  of  the  independent 
sort,  in  the  house  for  a  week  or  two,"  said  the  beadle  ; 
"  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  board  would  soon  bring 
their  spirit  down  for  'em." 

"  Let  'em  alone  for  that,"  replied  the  undertaker.  So 
saying,  he  smiled,  approvingly,  to  calm  the  rising  wrath 
of  the  indignant  parish  officer. 

Mr.  Bumble  lifted  off  his  cocked-hat ;  took  a  hand- 
kerchief from  the  inside  of  the  crown ;  wiped  from  his 
forehead  the  perspiration  which  his  rage  had  engen- 
dered ;  fixed  the  cocked-hat  on  again  ;  and,  turning  to 
the  undertaker,  said  in  a  calmer  voice  : 

«  Well ;  what  about  the  boy  ?  " 

"  Oh  !  "  replied  the  undertaker  ;  "  why  you  know,  Mr. 
Bumble,  I  pay  a  good  deal  towards  the  poor's  rates." 

«  Hem  ! "  said  Mr.  Bumble.     "  Well  ?  " 

"  Well,"  replied  the  undertaker,  "  I  was  thinking  that 
if  I  pay  so  much  towards  'em,  I've  a  right  to  get  as 
much  out  of  'em  as  I  can,  Mr.  Bumble ;  and  so  —  and 
so  —  I  think  I'll  take  the  boy  myself" 

Mr.  Bumble  grasped  the  undertaker  by  the  arm,  and 
led  him  into  the  building.  Mr.  Sowerberry  was  closeted 
with  the  board  for  five  minutes ;  and  it  was  arranged  that 
Oliver  should  go  to  him  that  evening  "  upon  hking,"  — 
a  phrase  which  means,  in  the  case  of  a  parish  appren- 
tice, that  if  the  master  find,  upon  a  short  trial,  that  he 


OLIVER  TWIST.  53 

can  get  enougli  work  out  of  a  boy  without  putting  too 
much  food  into  him,  he  shall  have  him  for  a  term  of 
years,  to  do  what  he  likes  with. 

When  little  Oliver  was  taken  before  the  "  gentlemen  " 
that  evening  ;  and  informed  that  he  was  to  go,  that  night, 
as  general  house-lad  to  a  coffin-maker's  ;  and  that  if  he 
complained  of  his  situation,  or  ever  came  back  to  the 
parish  again,  he  would  be  sent  to  sea,  there  to  be 
drowned,  or  knocked  on  the  head,  as  the  case  might 
be,  he  evinced  so  little  emotion,  that  they,  by  common 
consent,  pronounced  him  a  hardened  young  rascal,  and 
ordered  Mr.  Bumble  to  remove  him  forthwith. 

Now,  although  it  was  very  natural  that  the  board,  of 
all  people  in  the  world,  should  feel  in  a  great  state  of 
virtuous  astonishment  and  horror  at  the  smallest  tokens 
of  want  of  feeling  on  the  part  of  anybody,  they  were 
rather  out,  in  this  particular  instance.  The  simple  fact 
was,  that  Oliver,  instead  of  possessing  too  little  feeling, 
possessed  rather  too  much ;  and  was  in  a  fair  way  of 
being  reduced,  for  Ufe,  to  a  state  of  brutal  stupidity  and 
sullenness  by  the  ill-usage  he  had  received.  He  heard 
the  news  of  his  destination,  in  perfect  silence ;  and,  hav- 
ing had  his  luggage  put  into  his  hand  —  which  was  not 
very  difficult  to  carry,  inasmuch  as  it  was  all  comprised 
within  the  limits  of  a  brown  paper  parcel,  about  half  a 
foot  square  by  three  inches  deep  —  he  pulled  his  cap 
over  his  eyes ;  and  once  more  attaching  himself  to  Mr. 
Bumble's  coat-cuff,  was  led  away  by  that  dignitary  to  a 
new  scene  of  suffering. 

For  some  time,  Mr.  Bumble  drew  Oliver  along,  with- 
out notice  or  remark ;  for  the  beadle  carried  his  head 
very  erect,  as  a  beadle  always  should  :  and,  it  being  a 
windy  day,  little  Oliver  was  completely  enshrouded  by 


54  OLIVER  TWIST. 

the  skirts  of  Mr.  Bumble's  coat  as  they  blew  open,  and 
disclosed  to  great  advantage  his  flapped  waistcoat  and 
drab  plush  knee-breeches.  As  they  drew  near  to  their 
destination,  however,  Mr.  Bumble  thought  it  expedient 
to  look  down  and  see  that  the  boy  was  in  good  order 
for  inspection  by  his  new  master  :  which  he  accord- 
ingly did :  with  a  fit  and  becoming  air  of  gracious 
patronage. 

"  Oliver ! "  said  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Oliver,  in  a  low,  tremulous  voice. 

"  Pull  that  cap  off  your  eyes,  and  hold  up  your  head, 
sir." 

Although  Oliver  did  as  he  was  desired,  at  once  ;  and 
passed  the  back  of  his  unoccupied  hand  briskly  across 
his  eyes,  he  left  a  tear  in  them  when  he  looked  up  at  his 
conductor.  As  Mr.  Bumble  gazed  sternly  upon  him,  it 
rolled  down  his  cheek.  It  was  followed  by  another,  and 
another.  The  child  made  a  strong  effort,  but  it  was  an 
unsuccessful  one.  Withdrawing  his  other  hand  from  Mr. 
Bumble's,  he  covered  his  face  with  both ;  and  wept  un- 
til the  tears  sprung  out,  from  between  his  thin  and  bony 
fingers. 

"  Well ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bumble,  stopping  short,  and 
darting  at  his  little  charge  a  look  of  intense  malignity. 
"Well!  Of  all  the  ungratefullest,  and  worst-disposed 
boys  as  ever  I  see,  Oliver,  you  are  the  " 

"  No,  no,  sir,"  sobbed  Oliver,  clinging  to  the  hand 
which  held  the  well-known  cane  ;  "  no,  no,  sir ;  I  will 
be  good ;  indeed ;  indeed,  indeed  I  will,  sir  !  I  am  a 
very  little  boy,  sir  ;  and  it  is  so  —  so  " 

"  So  what  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Bumble  in  amazement. 

"  So  lonely,  sir  !  So  very  lonely  !  "  cried  the  child. 
"  Everybody  hates  me.     Oh !  sir,  don't,  don't   pray  be 


OLIVER  TWIST.  55 

cross  to  me  ! "  The  child  beat  his  hand  upon  his  heart ; 
and  looked  in  his  companion's  face,  with  tears  of  real 
agony. 

Mr.  Bumble  regarded  Oliver's  piteous  and  helpless 
look  with  some  astonishment,  for  a  few  seconds ;  hemmed 
three  or  four  times  in  a  husky  manner ;  and  after  mut- 
tering something  about  "  that  troublesome  cough,"  bade 
Oliver  dry  his  eyes  and  be  a  good  boy.  Then  once 
more  taking  his  hand,  he  walked  on  with  him  in  si- 
lence. 

The  undertaker,  who  had  just  put  up  the  shutters  of 
his  shop,  was  making  some  entries  in  his  day-book  by 
the  light  of  a  most  appropriate  dismal  candle,  when  Mr. 
Bumble  entered. 

"  Aha  ! "  said  the  undertaker  :  looking  up  from  the 
book,  and  pausing  in  the  middle  of  a  word .;  "  is  that 
you.  Bumble  ?  " 

"  No  one  else,  Mr.  Sowerberry,"  replied  the  beadle. 
"  Here  !  I've  brought  the  boy."     Oliver  made  a  bow. 

"  Oh  !  that's  the  boy,  is  it  ?  "  said  the  undertaker : 
raising  the  candle  above  his  head,  to  get  a  better  view  of 
Oliver.  "Mrs.  Sowerberry  !  will  you  have  the  goodness 
to  come  here  a  moment,  my  dear  ?  " 

Mrs.  Sowerberry  emerged  from  a  little  room  behind 
the  shop,  and  presented  the  form  of  a  short,  thin, 
squeezed-up  woman,  with  a  vixenish  countenance. 

"  My  dear,"  said  Mr.  Sowerberry,  deferentially,  "  this 
is  the  boy  from  the  workhouse  that  I  told  you  of"  Ol- 
iver bowed  again. 

"  Dear  me  ! "  said  the  undertaker's  wife,  "  he's  very 
small." 

"  Why,  he  is  rather  small,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble:  look- 
ing at  Oliver  as  if  it  were  his  fault  that  he  was  no  bigger; 


56  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"he  IS  small.     There's  no  denying  it.     But  he'll  grow, 
Mrs.  Sowerberry  —  he'll  grow." 

"  Ah  !  I  dare  say  he  will,"  replied  the  lady  pettishly, 
"  on  our  victuals  and  our  drink.  I  see  no  saving  in  par- 
ish children,  not  I ;  for  they  always  cost  more  to  keep, 
than  they're  worth.  However,  men  always  think  they 
know  best.  There  !  Get  down-stairs,  little  bag  o'  bones." 
With  this,  the  undertaker's  wife  opened  a  side-door  and 
pushed  Oliver  down  a  steep  flight  of  stairs  into  a  stone 
cell,  damp  and  dark :  forming  the  anteroom  to  the  coal- 
cellar,  and  denominated  "  the  kitchen  :  "  wherein  sat  a 
slatternly  girl,  in  shoes  down  at  heel,  and  blue  worsted 
stockings  very  much  out  of  repair. 

"  Here,  Charlotte,"  said  Mrs.  Sowerberry,  who  had 
followed  Oliver  down,  "  give  this  boy  some  of  the  cold 
bits  that  were  put  by  for  Trip.  He  hasn't  come  home 
since  the  morning,  so  he  may  go  without  'em.  I  dare 
say  the  boy  isn't  too  dainty  to  eat  'em,  —  are  you,  boy?" 
Oliver,  whose  eyes  had  ghstened  at  the  mention  of 
meat,  and  who  was  trembling  with  eagerness  to  devour 
it,  replied  in  the  negative  ;  and  a  plateful  of  coarse  broken 
victuals  was  set  before  him. 

I  wish  some  well-fed  philosopher,  whose  meat  and 
drink  turn  to  gall  within  him,  whose  blood  is  ice,  whose 
heart  is  iron,  could  have  seen  Oliver  Twist  clutching  at 
the  dainty  viands  that  the  dog  had  neglected.  I  wish  he 
could  have  witnessed  the  horrible  avidity  with  which  Ol- 
iver tore  the  bits  asunder  with  all  the  ferocity  of  famine. 
There  is  only  one  thing  I  should  like  better ;  and  that 
would  be  to  see  the  Philosopher  making  the  same  sort 
of  meal  himself,  with  the  same  relish. 

"  Well,"  said  the  undertaker's  wife,  when  Oliver  had 
finished  his  supper:  which  she  had  regarded  in  silent 


OLIVER  TWIST.  57 

horror,  and  with  fearful  auguries  of  his  future  appetite : 
"  have  you  done  ?  " 

There  being  nothing  eatable  within  his  reach,  Oliver 
replied  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Then  come  with  me,"  said  Mrs.  Sowerberry  :  taking 
up  a  dim  and  dirty  lamp,  and  leading  the  way  up-stairs  ; 
"  your  bed's  under  the  counter.  You  don't  mind  sleeping 
among  the  coffins,  I  suppose  ?  But  it  doesn't  much  mat- 
ter whether  you  do  or  don't,  for  you  can't  sleep  anywhere 
else.     Come,  don't  keep  me  here  all  night !  " 

Oliver  lingered  no  longer,  but  meekly  followed  his  new 
mistress. 


58  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  V. 

OLIVER  MINGLES  WITH  NEW  ASSOCIATES.  GOING  TO 
A  FUNERAL  FOR  THE  FIRST  TIME,  HE  FORMS  AN 
UNFAVORABLE    NOTION    OF    HIS    MASTER'S   BUSINESS. 

Oliver  being  left  to  himself  in  the  undertaker's  shop, 
set  the  lamp  down  on  a  workman's  bench,  and  gazed 
timidly  about  him  with  a  feeling  of  awe  and  dread,  which 
many  people  a  good  deal  older  than  he  will  be  at  no  loss 
to  understand.  An  unfinished  coffin  on  black  trestles, 
which  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  shop,  looked  so  gloomy 
and  deathlike  that  a  cold  tremble  came  over  him,  every 
time  his  eyes  wandered  in  the  direction  of  the  dismal 
object ;  from  which  he  almost  expected  to  see  some 
frightful  form  slowly  rear  its  head,  to  drive  him  mad 
with  terror.  Against  the  wall  were  ranged,  in  regular 
array,  a  long  row  of  elm  boards  cut  into  the  same  shape ; 
looking  in  the  dim  light,  like  high-shouldered  ghosts  with 
their  hands  in  their  breeches-pockets.  Coffin-plates,  elm- 
chips,  bright-headed  nails,  and  shreds  of  black  cloth,  lay 
scattered  on  the  floor :  and  the  wall  behind  the  counter 
was  ornamented  with  a  lively  representation  of  two 
mutes  in  very  stiff  neckcloths,  on  duty  at  a  large  pri- 
vate door,  with  a  hearse  di-awn  by  four  black  steeds, 
approaching  in  the  distance.  The  shop  was  close  and 
hot ;  and  the  atmosphere  seemed  tainted  with  the  smell 


OLIVER  TWIST.  59 

of  coffins.  The  recess  beneath  the  counter  in  which  his 
flock  mattress  was  thrust,  looked  like  a  grave. 

Nor  were  these  the  only  dismal  feelings  which  de- 
pressed Oliver.  He  was  alone  in  a  strange  place ;  and 
we  all  know  how  chilled  and  desolate  the  best  of  us  will 
sometimes  feel  in  such  a  situation.  The  boy  had  no 
friends  to  care  for,  or  to  care  for  him.  The  regret  of 
no  recent  separation  was  fresh  in  his  mind  ;  the  absence 
of  no  loved  and  well-remembered  face  sunk  heavily  into 
his  heart.  But  his  heart  was  heavy,  notwithstanding ; 
and  he  wished,  as  he  crept  into  his  narrow  bed,  that 
that  were  his  coffin ;  and  that  he  could  be  laid  in  a  calm 
and  lasting  sleep  in  the  churchyard  ground,  with  the  tall 
grass  Avaving  gently  above  his  head,  and  the  sound  of  the 
old  deep  bell  to  soothe  him  in  his  sleep. 

Oliver  was  awakened  in  the  morning,  by  a  loud  kick- 
ing at  the  outside  of  the  shop-door :  which  before  he 
could  huddle  on  his  clothes,  was  repeated,  in  an  angry 
and  impetuous  manner,  about  twenty-five  times.  When 
he  began  to  undo  the  chain,  the  legs  desisted,  and  a  voice 
began. 

"  Open  the  door,  will  yer  ?  "  cried  the  voice  which  be- 
longed to  the  legs  which  had  kicked  at  the  door. 

"  I  will,  directly,  sir,"  replied  Oliver :  undoing  the 
chain,  and  turning  the  key. 

"I  suppose  yer  the  new  boy,  aVt  yer?"  said  the 
voice  through  the  keyhole. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  How  old  are  yer  ?  "  inquired  the  voice. 

"  Ten,  sir,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  Then,  I'll  whop  yer  when  I  get  in,"  said  the  voice ; 
"  you  just  see  if  I  don't,  that's  all,  my  work'us  brat ! " 
and  having  made  this  obliging  promise,  the  voice  began 
to  whistle. 


60  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Oliver  had  been  too  often  subjected  to  the  process  to 
which  the  very  expressive  monosyllable  just  recorded 
bears  reference,  to  entertain  the  smallest  doubt  that  the 
owner  of  the  voice,  whoever  he  might  be,  would  redeem 
his  pledge,  most  honorably.  He  drew  back  the  bolts 
with  a  trembling  hand,  and  opened  the  door. 

For  a  second  or  two,  Oliver  glanced  up  the  street,  and 
down  the  street,  and  over  the  way :  impressed  with  the 
belief  that  the  unknown,  who  had  addressed  him  through 
the  keyhole,  had  walked  a  few  paces  off,  to  warm  himself; 
for  nobody  did  he  see  but  a  big  'charity -boy,  sitting  on  a 
post  in  front  of  the  house,  eating  a  slice  of  bread  and  but- 
ter; which  he  cut  into  wedges,  the  size  of  his  mouth,  with 
a  clasp-knife,  and  then  consumed  with  great  dexterity. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,"  said  Oliver,  at  length ;  see- 
ing that  no  other  visitor  made  his  appearance  ;  "  did  you 
knock?" 

"  I  kicked,"  rephed  the  charity-boy. 

*'  Did  you  want  a  coffin,  sir  ?  "  inquired  Oliver,  inno- 
cently. 

At  this,  the  charity -boy  looked  monstrous  fierce ;  and 
said  that  Oliver  would  want  one  before  long,  if  he  cut 
jokes  with  his  superiors  in  that  way. 

"Yer  don't  know  who  I  am,  I  suppose,  Work'us?" 
said  the  charity-boy,  in  continuation :  descendmg  from 
the  top  of  the  post,  meanwhile,  with  edifying  gravity. 

"  No,  sir,"  rejoined  Oliver. 

"I'm  Mister  Noah  Claypole,"  said  the  charity -boy, 
"and  you're  under  me.  Take  down  the  shutters,  yer 
idle  young  ruffian ! "  With  this  Mr.  Claypole  adminis- 
tered a  kick  to  Oliver,  and  entered  the  shop  with  a 
dignified  air,  which  did  him  great  credit.  It  is  difficult 
for  a  large-headed,  small-eyed  youth,  of  lumbering  make 


OLIVER  TWIST.  61 

and  heavy  countenance,  to  look  dignified  under  any  cir- 
cumstances ;  but  it  is  more  especially  so,  when  super- 
added to  these  personal  attractions  are  a  red  nose  and 
yellow  smalls. 

Oliver,  having  taken  down  the  shutters,  and  broken  a 
pane  of  glass  in  his  efforts  to  stagger  away  beneath  the 
weight  of  the  first  one  to  a  small  court  at  the  side  of  the 
house  in  which  they  were  kept  during  the  day,  was 
graciously  assisted  by  Noah :  who  having  consoled  him 
with  the  assurance  that  "he'd  catch  it,"  condescended 
to  help  him.  Mr.  Sowerberry  came  down  soon  after. 
Shortly  afterwards,  Mrs.  Sowerberry  appeared ;  and 
Oliver  having  "  caught  it,"  in  fulfilment  of  Noah's  pre- 
diction, followed  that  young  gentleman  down-stairs  to 
breakfast. 

"  Come  near  the  fire,  Noah,"  said  Charlotte.  "  I  saved 
a  nice  little  bit  of  bacon  for  you  from  master's  breakfast. 
OHver,  shut  that  door  at  Mister  Noah's  back,  and  take 
them  bits  that  I've  put  out  on  the  cover  of  the  bread- 
pan.  There's  your  tea ;  take  it  away  to  that  box,  and 
drink  it  there,  and  make  haste,  for  they'll  want  you  to 
mind  the  shop.     D'ye  hear  ?  " 

"  D'ye  hear,  Work'us  ?  "  said  Noah  Claypole. 

"  Lor'  Noah  ! "  said  Charlotte,  "  what  a  rum  creature 
you  are  !     Why  don't  you  let  the  boy  alone  ?  " 

"  Let  him  alone  ! "  said  Noah.  "  Why  everybody  lets 
him  alone  enough,  for  the  matter  of  that.  Neither  his 
father  nor  his  mother  will  ever  interfere  with  him.  All 
his  relations  let  him  have  his  own  way  pretty  well.  Eh, 
Charlotte !     He  !  he  !  he  ! " 

"Oh,  you  queer  soul!"  said  Charlotte,  bursting  into  a 
hearty  laugh,  in  which  she  was  joined  by  Noah ;  after 
which,  they  both  looked  scornfully  at  poor  Oliver  Twist, 


b2  OLIVER  TWIST. 

as  he  sat  shivering  on  the  box  in  the  coldest  corner  of 
the  room,  and  ate  the  stale  pieces  which  had  been  spe- 
cially reserved  for  him. 

Noah  was  a  charity-boy,  but  not  a  workhouse  orphan. 
No  chance-child  was  he,  for  he  could  trace  his  genealogy 
all  the  way  back  to  his  parents,  who  lived  hard  by ;  his 
mother  being  a  washer-woman,  and  his  father  a  drunken 
soldier,  discharged  with  a  wooden  leg,  and  a  diurnal  pen- 
sion of  twopence  half-penny  and  an  unstateable  fraction. 
The  shop-boys  in  the  neighborhood  had  long  been  in  the 
habit  of  branding  Noah,  in  the  public  streets,  with  the 
ignominious  epithets  of  "  leathers,"  "  charity,"  and  the 
like;  and  Noah  had  borne  them  without  reply.  But, 
now  that  fortune  had  cast  in  his  way  a  nameless  orphan, 
at  whom  even  the  meanest  could  point  the  finger  of 
scorn,  he  retorted  on  him  with  interest.  This  affords 
charming  food  for  contemplation.  It  shows  us  what  a 
beautiful  thing  human  nature  may  be  made  to  be :  and 
how  impartially  the  same  amiable  qualities  are  developed 
in  the  finest  lord  and  the  dirtiest  charity-boy. 

Oliver  had  been  sojourning  at  the  undertaker's  some 
three  weeks  or  a  month.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sowerberry  — 
the  shop  being  shut  up  —  were  taking  their  supper  in 
the  little  back-parlor,  when  Mr.  Sowerberry,  after  sev- 
eral deferential  glances  at  his  wife,  said,  — 

"My  dear" —  He  was  going  to  say  more ;  but,  Mrs. 
Sowerberry  looking  up,  with  a  peculiarly  unpropitious 
aspect,  he  stopped  short. 

"  Well,"  said  Mrs.  Sowerberry,  sharply. 

"  Nothing,  my  dear,  nothing,"  said  Mr.  Sower- 
berry. 

"  Ugh,  you  brute  !  "  said  Mrs.  Sowerberry. 

"  Not  at  all,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Sowerberry  humbly. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  63 

"I  thought  you  didn't  want  to  hear,  my  dear.  I  was 
only  going  to  say  " 

"  Oh,  don't  tell  me  what  you  were  going  to  say,"  inter- 
posed Mrs.  Sowerberry.  "I  am  nobody;  don't  consult 
me,  pray.  /  don't  want  to  intrude  upon  your  secrets." 
As  Mrs.  Sowerberry  said  this,  she  gave  an  hysterical 
laugh,  which  threatened  violent  consequences. 

"  But,  my  dear,"  said  Sowerberry,  "  I  want  to  ask 
your  advice." 

"  No,  no,  don't  ask  mine,"  replied  Mrs.  Sowerberry,  in 
an  affecting  manner :  "  ask  somebody  else's."  Here 
there  was  another  hysterical  laugh,  wliich  frightened  Mr. 
Sowerberry  very  much.  This  is  a  very  common  and 
much-approved  matrimonial  course  of  treatment,  which 
is  often  very  effective.  It  at  once  reduced  Mr.  Sower- 
berry to  begging,  as  a  special  favor,  to  be  allowed  to  say 
what  Mrs.  Sowerberry  was  most  curious  to  hear.  After 
a  short  altercation  of  less  than  three  quarters  of  an  hour's 
duration,  the  permission  was  most  graciously  conceded. 

"It's  only  about  young  Twist,  my  dear,"  said  Mr. 
Sowerberry.  "A  very  good-looking  boy,  that,  my 
dear." 

"  He  need  be,  for  he  eats  enough,"  observed  the  lady. 

"  There's  an  expression  of  melancholy  in  his  face,  my 
dear,"  resumed  Mr.  Sowerberry,  "  which  is  very  inter- 
esting.    He  would  make  a  delightful  mute,  my  love." 

Mrs.  Sowerberry  looked  up  with  an  expression  of 
considerable  wonderment.  Mr.  Sowerberry  remarked 
it ;  and  without  allowing  time  for  any  observation  on  the 
good  lady's  part,  proceeded  : 

"I  don't  mean  a  regular  mute  to  attend  grown-up 
people,  my  dear,  but  only  for  children's  practice.  It 
would  be  very  new  to  have  a  mute  in  proportion,  my 


64  OLIVER  TWIST. 

dear.  You  may  depend  upon  it,  it  would  have  a  superb 
effect." 

Mrs.  Sowerbeny,  who  had  a  good  deal  of  taste  in  the 
undertaking  way,  was  much  struck  by  the  novelty  of  this 
idea ;  but,  as  it  would  have  been  compromising  her  dig- 
nity to  have  said  so,  under  existing  circumstances,  she 
merely  inquired,  with  much  sharpness,  why  such  an  ob- 
vious suggestion  had  not  presented  itself  to  her  husband's 
mind  before?  Mr.  Sowerberry  rightly  construed  this, 
as  an  acquiescence  in  his  proposition ;  it  was  speedily 
determined,  therefore,  that  Oliver  should  be  at  once  ini- 
tiated into  the  mysteries  of  the  trade  ;  and,  with  this 
view,  that  he  should  accompany  his  master  on  the  very 
next  occasion  of  his  services  being  required. 

The  occasion  was  not  long  in  coming.  Half  an  hour 
after  breakfast  next  morning,  Mr.  Bumble  entered  the 
shop ;  and  supporting  his  cane  against  the  counter,  drew 
forth  his  large  leathern  pocket-book :  from  which  he 
selected  a  small  scrap  of  paper,  which  he  handed  over 
to  Sowerberry. 

"  Aha !  "  said  the  undertaker,  glancing  over  it  with  a 
lively  countenance :  "an  order  for  a  coffin,  eh?" 

"  For  a  coffin  first,  and  a  porochial  funeral  afterwards," 
replied  Mr.  Bumble,  fastening  the  strap  of  the  leathern 
pocket-book  :  which,  like  himself,  was  very  corpulent. 

"  Bay  ton,"  said  the  undertaker,  looking  from  the  scrap 
of  paper  to  Mr.  Bumble.  "  I  never  heard  the  name 
before." 

Bumble  shook  his  head,  as  he  replied,  "  Obstinate  peo- 
ple, Mr.  Sowerberry  ;  very  obstinate.  Proud,  too,  I'm 
afraid,  sir." 

"  Proud,  eh  ?  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Sowerberry  with  a  sneer. 
"  Come,  that's  too  much." 


OLIVER  TWIST.  65 

"  Oh,  it's  sickening,"  replied  the  beadle.  "  Antimonial, 
Mr.  Sowerberry ! " 

"  So  it  is,"  acquiesced  the  undertaker. 

"  We  only  heard  of  the  family  the  night  before  last," 
said  the  beadle  ;  "  and  we  shouldn't  have  known  any- 
thing about  them  then,  only  a  woman  who  lodges  in  the 
same  house  made  an  application  to  the  porochial  commit- 
tee for  them  to  send  the  porochial  surgeon  to  see  a  woman 
as  was  very  bad.  He  had  gone  out  to  dinner ;  but  his 
'prentice  (which  is  a  very  clever  lad)  sent  'em  some 
medicine  in  a  blacking-bottle,  oflP-hand." 

"  Ah,  there's  promptness,"  said  the  undertaker. 

"  Promptness,  indeed  ! "  replied  the  beadle.  "  But 
what's  the  consequence ;  what's  the  ungrateful  behavior 
of  these  rebels,  sir?  Why,  the  husband  sends  back  word 
that  the  medicine  won't  suit  his  wife's  complaint,  and  so 
she  shan't  take  it  —  says  she  shan't  take  it,  sir !  Good, 
strong,  wholesome  medicine,  as  was  given  with  great  suc- 
cess to  two  Irish  laborers  and  a  coal-heaver,  only  a  week 
before  —  sent  'em  for  nothing,  with  a  blackin'-bottle  in, 
—  and  he  sends  back  word  that  she  shan't  take  it,  sir  !  " 

As  the  atrocity  presented  itself  to  Mr.  Bumble's  mind 
in  full  force,  he  struck  the  counter  sharply  with  his  cane, 
and  became  flushed  with  indignation. 

"Well,"  said  the  undertaker,  "Ine  —  ver — did" 

"  Never  did,  sir  ! "  ejaculated  the  beadle.  "  No,  nor 
nobody  never  did ;  but,  now  she's  dead,  we've  got  to  bury 
her  ;  and  that's  the  direction  ;  and  the  sooner  it's  done, 
the  better." 

Thus  saying,  Mr.  Bumble  put  on  his  cocked-hat  wrong 
side  first,  in  a  fever  of  parochial  excitement ;  and  flounced 
out  of  the  shop. 

"  Why,  he  was  so  angry,  Oliver,  that  he  forgot  even 


66  OLIVER  TWIST. 

to  ask  after  you  ! "  said  Mr.  Sowerberry,  looking  after 
the  beadle  as  he  strode  down  the  street. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Oliver,  who  had  carefully  kept  him- 
self out  of  sight,  during  the  interview ;  and  who  was 
shaking  from  head  to  foot  at  the  mere  recollection  of  the 
sound  of  Mr.  Bumble's  voice.  He  needn't  have  taken 
the  trouble  to  shrink  from  Mr.  Bumble's  glance,  how- 
ever ;  for  that  functionary,  on  whom  the  prediction  of 
the  gentleman  in  the  white  waistcoat  had  made  a  very 
strong  impression,  thought  that  now  the  undertaker  had 
got  Oliver  upon  trial  the  subject  was  better  avoided,  until 
such  time  as  he  should  be  firmly  bound  for  seven  years  : 
and  all  danger  of  his  being  returned  upon  the  hands  of 
the  parish  should  be  thus  effectually  and  legally  over- 
come. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  Sowerberry,  taking  up  his  hat,  "  the 
sooner  this  job  is  done,  the  better.  Noah,  look  after  the 
shop.  Oliver,  put  on  your  cap,  and  come  with  me." 
Oliver  obeyed,  and  followed  his  master  on  his  profes- 
sional mission. 

They  walked  on,  for  some  time,  through  the  most 
crowded  and  densely  inhabited  part  of  the  town  ;  and 
then,  striking  down  a  narrow  street  more  dirty  and  mis- 
erable than  any  they  had  yet  passed  through,  paused  to 
look  for  the  house  which  was  the  object  of  their  search. 
The  houses  on  either  side  were  high  and  large,  but  very 
old,  and  tenanted  by  people  of  the  poorest  class :  as  their 
neglected  appearance  would  have  sufficiently  denoted, 
without  the  concurrent  testimony  afforded  by  the  squalid 
looks  of  the  few  men  and  women  who,  with  folded  arms 
and  bodies  half  doubled,  occasionally  skulked  along.  A 
great  many  of  the  tenements  had  shop-fronts  ;  but  these 
were  fast  closed,  and  mouldering  away :  only  the  upper 


OLIVER  TWIST.  67 

rooms  being  inhabited.  Some  houses  wliicli  had  become 
insecure  from  age  and  decay,  were  prevented  from  fall- 
ing into  the  street,  by  huge  beams  of  wood  reared  against 
the  walls,  and  firmly  planted  in  the  road ;  but,  even  these 
crazy  dens  seemed  to  have  been  selected  as  the  nightly 
haunts  of  some  houseless  wretches,  for  many  of  the 
rough  boards,  which  supphed  the  place  of  door  and  win- 
dow, were  wrenched  from  their  positions,  to  afford  an 
apertuie  wide  enough  for  the  passage  of  a  human  body. 
The  kennel  was  stagnant  and  filthy.  The  very  rats, 
which  here  and  there  lay  putrefying  in  its  rottenness, 
were  hideous  with  famine. 

There  was  neither  knocker  nor  bell-handle  at  the  open 
door  where  Oliver  and  his  master  stopped  ;  so,  groping 
his  way  cautiously  through  the  dark  passage,  and  bid- 
ding Oliver  keep  close  to  him  and  not  be  afraid,  the 
undertaker  mounted  to  the  top  of  the  first  flight  of  stairs. 
Stumbling  against  a  door  on  the  landing,  he  rapped  at  it 
with  his  knuckles. 

It  was  opened  by  a  young  girl  of  thirteen  or  fourteen. 
The  undertaker  at  once  saw  enough  of  what  the  room 
contained,  to  know  it  was  the  apartment  to  which  he  had 
been  directed.     He  stepped  in  ;  Oliver  followed  him. 

There  was  no  fire  in  the  room ;  but  a  man  was  crouch- 
ing, mechanically,  over  the  empty  stove.  An  old  woman, 
too,  had  drawn  a  low  stool  to  the  cold  hearth,  and  was 
sitting  beside  him.  There  were  some  ragged  children  in 
another  comer  ;  and  in  a  small  recess,  opposite  the  door, 
there  lay  upon  the  ground,  something  covered  with  an 
old  blanket.  Oliver  shuddered  as  he  cast  his  eyes  to- 
wards the  place,  and  crept  involuntarily  closer  to  his 
master ;  for  though  it  was  covered  up,  the  boy  felt  that 
it  was  a  corpse. 


68  OLIVER  TWIST. 

The  man's  face  was  thin  and  very  pale ;  his  hair  and 
beard  were  grizzly ;  his  eyes  were  bloodshot.  The  old 
woman's  face  was  wrinkled;  her  two  remaining  teeth 
protruded  over  her  underlip ;  and  her  eyes  were  bright 
and  piercing.  Oliver  was  afraid  to  look  at  either  her 
or  the  man.  They  seemed  so  like  the  rats  he  had  seen 
outside. 

"  Nobody  shall  go  near  her,"  said  the  man,  starting 
fiercely  up,  as  the  undertaker  approached  the  recess. 
"  Keep  back  !  d — n  you,  keep  back,  if  you've  a  life 
to  lose  ! " 

"  Nonsense,  my  good  man,"  said  the  undertaker,  who 
was  pretty  well  used  to  misery  in  all  its  shapes.     "  Non- 


sense 


"  I  tell  you,"  said  the  man  :  clenching  his  hands,  and 
stamping  furiously  on  the  floor,  —  "I  tell  you  I  won't 
have  her  put  into  the  ground.  She  couldn't  rest  there. 
The  worms  would  worry  her  —  not  eat  her  —  she  is  so 
worn  away." 

The  undertaker  offered  no  reply  to  this  raving ;  but, 
producing  a  tape  from  his  pocket,  knelt  down  for  a  mo- 
ment by  the  side  of  the  body. 

"  Ah  ! "  said  the  man  :  bursting  into  tears,  and  sinking 
on  his  knees  at  the  feet  of  the  dead  woman  ;  "  kneel  down, 
kneel  down  —  kneel  round  her,  every  one  of  you,  and 
mark  my  words !  I  say  she  was  starved  to  death.  I 
never  knew  how  bad  she  was,  till  the  fever  came  upon 
her ;  and  then  her  bones  were  starting  through  the  skin. 
There  was  neither  fire  nor  candle  ;  she  died  in  the  dark 

in  the  dark  !     She  couldn't  even  see  her  children's 

faces,  though  we  heard  her  gasping  out  their  names.  I 
begged  for  her  in  the  streets;  and  they  sent  me  to 
prison.     When  I  came  back,  she  was  dying  ;  and  all  the 


OLIVER  TWIST.  69 

blood  in  my  heart  has  dried  up,  for  they  starved  her  to 
death.  I  swear  it  before  the  God  that  saw  it !  They 
starved  her  ! "  He  twined  his  hands  in  his  hair  ;  and, 
with  a  loud  scream,  rolled  grovelling  upon  the  floor  :  his 
eyes  fixed,  and  the  foam  covering  his  lips. 

The  terrified  children  cried  bitterly  ;  but  the  old 
woman,  who  had  hitherto  remained  as  quiet  as  if  she 
had  been  wholly  deaf  to  all  that  passed,  menaced  them 
into  silence.  Having  unloosed  the  cravat  of  the  man 
who  still  remained  extended  on  the  ground,  she  tottered 
towards  the  undertaker. 

"  She  was  my  daughter,"  said  the  old  woman,  nodding 
her  head  in  the  direction  of  the  corpse  ;  and  speaking 
with  an  idiotic  leer,  more  ghastly  than  even  the  presence 
of  death  in  such  a  place.  "  Lord,  Lord  !  Well,  it  is 
strange  that  I  who  gave  birth  to  her,  and  was  a  woman 
then,  should  be  alive  and  merry  now,  and  she  lying  there : 
so  cold  and  stiff !  Lord,  Lord !  —  to  think  of  it ;  —  it's 
as  good  as  a  play  —  as  good  as  a  play  ! " 

As  the  wretched  creature  mumbled  and  chuckled  in 
her  hideous  merriment,  the  undertaker  turned  to  go 
away. 

"  Stop,  stop  ! "  said  the  old  woman  in  a  loud  whisper. 
"  Will  she  be  buried  to-morrow,  or  next  day,  or  to-night  ? 
I  laid  her  out ;  and  I  must  walk,  you  know.  Send  me  a 
large  cloak  :  a  good  waim  one  :  for  it  is  bitter  cold.  We 
should  have  cake  and  wine,  too,  before  we  go  !  Never 
mind ;  send  some  bread  —  only  a  loaf  of  bread  and  a 
cup  of  water.  Shall  we  have  some  bread,  dear  ?  "  she 
said  eagerly  :  catching  at  the  undertaker's  coat,  as  he 
once  more  moved  towards  the  door. 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  the  undertaker,  "  of  course.  Any- 
thing you  like  I "     He  disengaged  himself  from  the  old 


70  OLIVER  TWIST. 

woman's  grasp  :  and,  drawing  Oliver  after  him,  hurried 
awaj. 

The  next  day,  (the  family  having  been  meanwhile 
relieved  with  a  half-quartern  loaf  and  a  piece  of  cheese : 
left  with  them  by  Mr.  Bumble  himself,)  Oliver  and  his 
master  returned  to  the  miserable  abode ;  where  Mr. 
Bumble  had  already  arrived,  accompanied  by  four  men 
from  the  workhouse,  who  were  to  act  as  bearers.  An 
old  black  cloak  had  been  thrown  over  the  rags  of  the  old 
woman  and  the  man ;  and  the  bare  coffin  having  been 
screwed  down,  was  hoisted  on  the  shoulders  of  the  bear- 
ers, and  carried  into  the  street. 

"  Now,  you  must  put  your  best  leg  foremost,  old  lady  ! " 
whispered  Sowerberry  in  the  old  woman's  ear ;  "  we  are 
rather  late  ;  and  it  won't  do  to  keep  the  clergyman 
waiting.     Move  on,  my  men,  —  as  quick  as  you  like  ! " 

Thus  directed,  the  bearers  trotted  on  under  their  light 
burden ;  and  the  two  mourners  kept  as  near  them  as  they 
could.  Mr.  Bumble  and  Sowerberry  walked  at  a  good 
smart  pace  in  front ;  and  Oliver,  whose  legs  were  not  so 
long  as  his  master's,  ran  by  the  side. 

There  ^vas  not  so  great  a  necessity  for  hurrying  as 
Mr.  Sowerberry  had  anticipated,  however;  for  when 
they  reached  the  obscure  corner  of  the  churchyard  in 
w^hich  the  nettles  grew,  and  w'here  the  parish-graves 
were  made,  the  clergyman  had  not  arrived  ;  and  the 
clerk,  who  was  sitting  by  the  vestry-room  fire,  seemed 
to  think  it  by  no  means  improbable  that  it  might  be  an 
hour  or  so,  before  he  came.  So,  they  put  the  bier  on 
the  brink  of  the  grave ;  and  the  two  mourners  waited 
patiently  in  the  damp  clay,  with  a  cold  rain  drizzling 
down,  while  the  ragged  boys,  whom  the  spectacle  had 
attracted  into  the  churchyard,  played  a  noisy  game  at 


OLIVER  TWIST.  71 

hide-and-seek  among  the  tombstones :  or  varied  their 
amusements  hj  jumping  backwards  and  forwards  over 
the  coffin.  Mr.  Sowerberry  and  Bumble,  being  personal 
friends  of  the  clerk,  sat  by  the  fire  with  him,  and  read 
the  paper. 

At  length,  after  a  lapse  of  something  more  than  an 
hour,  Mr.  Bumble,  and  Sowerberry,  and  the  clerk,  were 
seen  running  towards  the  grave.  Immediately  after- 
wards the  clergyman  appeared :  putting  on  his  surplice 
as  he  came  along.  Mr.  Bumble  then  thrashed  a  boy 
or  two,  to  keep  up  appearances  ;  and  the  reverend  gen- 
tleman, having  read  as  much  of  the  burial-service  as 
could  be  compressed  into  four  minutes,  gave  his  surplice 
to  the  clerk,  and  walked  away  again. 

"  Now,  Bill ! "  said  Sowerberry  to  the  grave-digger, 
"fill  up!" 

It  was  no  very  difficult  task  ;  for  the  grave  was  so 
full,  that  the  uppermost  coffin  was  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  surface.  The  grave-digger  shovelled  in  the  earth; 
stamped  it  loosely  down  with  his  feet :  shouldered  his 
spade,  and  walked  off,  followed  by  the  boys :  who  mur- 
mured very  loud  complaints  at  the  fiin  being  over  so 
soon. 

"  Come,  my  good  fellow  ! "  said  Bumble,  tapping  the 
man  on  the  back.     "  They  want  to  shut  up  the  yard." 

The  man,  who  had  never  once  moved,  since  he  had 
taken  his  station  by  the  grave-side,  started,  raised  his 
head,  stared  at  the  person  who  had  addressed  him,  walked 
forward  for  a  few  paces,  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon.  The 
crazy  old  woman  was  too  much  occupied  in  bewailing 
the  loss  of  her  cloak  (which  the  undertaker  had  taken 
off),  to  pay  him  any  attention  ;  so  they  threw  a  can  of 
cold  water  over  him ;  and  when  he  came  to,  saw  him 


72  OLIVER  TWIST. 

safely  out  of  the  churchyard,  locked  the  gate,  and  de- 
parted on  their  different  ways. 

"  Well,  Oliver,"  said  Sowerberry,  as  they  walked  home, 
"  how  do  you  like  it  ?  " 

"  Pretty  well,  thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Oliver,  with  con- 
siderable hesitation.     "  Not  very  much,  sir." 

"  Ah,  you'll  get  used  to  it  in  time,  Oliver,"  said  Sower- 
berry.     "  Nothing  when  you  are  used  to  it,  my  boy." 

Oliver  wondered,  in  his  own  mind,  whether  it  had  taken 
a  very  long  time  to  get  Mr.  Sowerberry  used  to  it.  But 
he  thought  it  better  not  to  ask  the  question  ;  and  walked 
back  to  the  shop :  thinking  over  all  he  had  seen  and 
heard. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  73 


CHAPTER  VI. 

OLIVER,  BEING  GOADED  BY  THE  TAUNTS  OF  NOAH, 
ROUSES  INTO  ACTION,  AND  RATHER  ASTONISHES 
HIM. 

The  montli's  trial  over,  Oliver  was  form  all  v  appren- 
ticed. It  was  a  nice  sickly  season  just  at  this  time.  In 
commercial  phrase,  coffins  were  looking  np  ;  and,  in  the 
course  of  a  few  weeks,  Oliver  had  acquired  a  great  deal 
of  experience.  The  success  of  Mr.  Sowerberry's  in- 
genious speculation,  exceeded  even  his  most  sanguine 
hopes.  The  oldest  inhabitants  recollected  no  period  at 
which  measles  had  been  so  prevalent,  or  so  fatal  to  in- 
fant existence  ;  and  many  were  the  mournful  processions 
which  little  Oliver  headed,  in  a  hat-band  reaching  down 
to  his  knees,  to  the  indescribable  admiration  and  emotion 
of  all  the  mothers  in  the  town.  As  Oliver  accompanied  his 
master  in  most  of  his  adult  expeditions,  too,  in  order  that 
he  might  acquire  that  equanimity  of  demeanor  and  full 
command  of  nerve  which  are  so  essential  to  a  finished 
undertaker,  he  had  many  opportunities  of  observing  the 
beautiful  resignation  and  fortitude  with  which  some 
strong-minded  people  bear  their  trials  and  losses. 

For  instance  ;  when  Sowerberry  had  an  order  for  the 
burial  of  some  rich  old  lady  or  gentleman,  who  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  great  number  of  nephews  and  nieces,  who 


74  OLIVER  TWIST. 

had  been  perfectly  inconsolable  during  the  previous  ill- 
ness, and  whose  grief  had  been  wholly  irrepressible  even 
on  the  most  public  occasions,  they  would  be  as  happy 
among  themselves  as  need  be  —  quite  cheerful  and 
contented:  conversing  together  with  as  much  freedom 
and  gayety,  as  if  nothing  whatever  had  happened  to 
disturb  them.  Husbands,  too,  bore  the  loss  of  their 
wives  with  the  most  heroic  calmness.  Wives,  again,  put 
on  weeds  for  their  husbands,  as  if,  so  far  from  grieving 
in  the  garb  of  sorrow,  they  had  made  up  their  minds 
to  render  it  as  becoming  and  attractive  as  possible.  It 
was  observable,  too,  that  ladies  and  gentlemen  who  were 
in  passions  of  anguish  during  the  ceremony  of  inter- 
ment, recovered  almost  as  soon  as  they  reached  home, 
and  became  quite  composed  before  the  tea-drinking  was 
over.  All  this  was  very  pleasant  and  improving  to  see  ; 
and  Oliver  beheld  it  with  great  admiration. 

That  Oliver  Twist  was  moved  to  resignation  by  the 
example  of  these  good  people,  I  cannot,  although  I  am 
his  biographer,  undertake  to  affirm  with  any  degree  of 
confidence  ;  but  I  can  most  distinctly  say,  that  for  many 
months  he  continued  meekly  to  submit  to  the  domination 
and  ill-treatment  of  Noah  Claypole  :  who  used  him  far 
worse  than  before,  now  that  his  jealousy  was  roused  by 
seeing  the  new  boy  promoted  to  the  black  stick  and  hat- 
band, while  he,  the  old  one,  remained  stationary  in  the 
muffin-cap  and  leathers.  Charlotte  treated  him  badly, 
because  Noah  did  ;  and  Mrs.  Sowerberry  was  his  de- 
cided enemy,  because  Mr.  Sowerberry  was  disposed  to 
be  his  friend ;  so,  between  these  three  on  one  side,  and 
a  glut  of  funerals  on  the  other,  Oliver  was  not  alto- 
gether as  comfortable  as  the  hungry  pig  was  when  he 
was  shut  up,  by  mistake,  in  the  grain  department  of  a 
brewery. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  75 

And  now,  I  come  to  a  very  important  passage  in  Ol- 
iver's history  ;  for  I  have  to  record  an  act,  slight  and 
unimportant  perhaps  in  appearance,  but  which  indirectly 
produced  a  most  material  change  in  all  his  future  pros- 
pects and  proceedings. 

One  day,  Oliver  and  Noah  had  descended  into  the 
kitchen  at  the  usual  dinner-hour,  to  banquet  upon  a 
small  joint  of  mutton  —  a  pound  and  a  half  of  the 
worst  end  of  the  neck  —  when  Charlotte  being  called 
out  of  the  way,  there  ensued  a  brief  interval  of  time, 
which  Noah  Claypole,  being  hungry  and  vicious,  con- 
sidered he  could  not  possibly  devote  to  a  worthier 
purpose  than  aggravating  and  tantalizing  young  Oliver 
Twist. 

Intent  upon  this  innocent  amusement,  Noah  put  his 
feet  on  the  table-cloth;  and  pulled  Oliver's  hair;  and 
twitched  his  ears;  and  expressed  his  opinion  that  he 
was  a  "  sneak  ;  "  and  furthermore  announced  his  inten- 
tion of  coming  to  see  him  hanged,  whenever  that  desir- 
able event  should  take  place  ;  and  entered  upon  various 
other  topics  of  petty  annoyance,  like  a  malicious  and 
ill-conditioned  charity-boy  as  he  was.  But,  none  of 
these  taunts  producing  the  desired  effect  of  making  Ol- 
iver cry,  Noah  attempted  to  be  more  facetious  still ;  and 
in  this  attempt,  did  what  many  small  wits,  with  far 
greater  reputations  than  Noah,  sometimes  do  to  this 
day,  when  they  want  to  be  funny.  He  got  rather 
personal. 

"  Work'us,"  said  Noah,  "  how's  your  mother  ?  " 

"  She's  dead,"  replied  Oliver ;  "  don't  you  say  any- 
thing about  her  to  me  ! " 

Oliver's  color  rose  as  he  said  this ;  he  breathed  quick- 
ly ;  and  there  was  a  curious  working  of  the  mouth  and 


76  OLIVER  TWIST. 

nostrils,  which  Mr.  Claypole  thought  must  be  the  imme- 
diate precursor  of  a  violent  fit  of  crying.  Under  this 
impression  he  returned  to  the  charge. 

"  What  did  she  die  of,  Work'us  ?  "  said  Noah. 

"  Of  a  broken  heart,  some  of  our  old  nurses  told  me," 
replied  Oliver:  more  as  if  he  were  talking  to  himself, 
than  answering  Noah.  "  I  think  I  know  what  it  must 
be  to  die  of  that ! " 

"Tol  de  rol  lol  lol,  right  fol  lairy,  Work'us,"  said 
Noah,  as  a  tear  rolled  down  Oliver's  cheek.  "  What's 
set  you  a-snivelling  now?" 

"  Not  you,''  replied  Oliver,  hastily  brushing  the  tear 
away.     "  Don't  think  it." 

"  Oh,  not  me,  eh  ?  "  sneered  Noah. 

"No,  not  you,"  replied  OHver,  sharply.  "There; 
that's  enough.  Don't  say  anything  more  to  me  about 
her;   you'd  better  not!" 

''  Better  not !  "  exclaimed  Noah.  "  Well !  Better  not ! 
Work'us,  don't  be  impudent.  Your  mother,  too !  She 
was  a  nice  'un,  she  was.  Oh,  Lor' ! "  And  here,  Noah 
nodded  hi&  head  expressively;  and  curled  up  as  much 
of  his  small  red  nose  as  muscular  action  could  collect 
together,  for  the  occasion. 

"  Yer  know,  Work'us,"  continued  Noah,  emboldened 
by  Oliver's  silence,  and  speaking  in  a  jeering  tone  of 
affected  pity :  of  all  tones  the  most  annoying :  "  Yer 
know,  Work'us,  it  carn't  be  helped  now ;  and  of  course 
yer  couldn't  help  it  then ;  and  I'm  very  sorry  for  it ; 
and  I'm  sure  we  all  are,  and  pity  yer  very  much.  But 
yer  must  know,  Work'us,  yer  mother  was  a  regular 
right-down  bad  'un." 

"What  did  you  say?"  inquired  Oliver,  looking  up 
very  quickly. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  77 

"A  regular  right-down  bad  'un,  Work'us"  replied 
Noah,  coolly.  "  And  it's  a  great  deal  better,  Work'us, 
that  she  died  when  she  did,  or  else  she'd  have  been  hard 
laboring  in  Bridewell,  or  transported,  or  hung  :  which  is 
more  likely  than  either,  isn't  it  ?  " 

Crimson  with  fury,  Oliver  started  up  ;  overthrew  the 
chair  and  table  ;  seized  Noah  by  the  throat ;  shook  him, 
in  the  violence  of  his  rage,  till  his  teeth  chattered  in  his 
head;  and,  collecting  his  whole  force  into  one  heavy 
blow,  felled  him  to  the  ground. 

A  minute  ago,  the  boy  had  looked  the  quiet,  mild, 
dejected  creature  that  harsh  treatment  had  made  him. 
But  his  spirit  was  roused  at  last ;  the  cruel  insult  to  his 
dead  mother  had  set  his  blood  on  fire.  His  breast 
heaved ;  his  attitude  was  erect ;  his  eye  bright  and  vivid ; 
his  whole  person  changed,  as  he  stood  glaring  over  the 
cowardly  tormentor  who  now  lay  crouching  at  his  feet ; 
and  defied  him  with  an  energy  he  had  never  known 
before. 

"  He'll  murder  me ! "  blubbered  Noah.  "  Charlotte  ! 
missis  !  Here's  the  new  boy  a-murdering  of  me !  Help ! 
help  !     Oliver's  gone  mad !     Char — lotte  ! " 

Noah's  shouts  were  responded  to,  by  a  loud  scream 
from  Charlotte,  and  a  louder  from  Mrs.  Sowerberry ;  the 
former  of  whom  rushed  into  the  kitchen  by  a  side-door, 
while  the  latter  paused  on  the  staircase  till  she  was  quite 
certain  that  it  was  consistent  with  the  preservation  of 
human  life,  to  come  farther  down. 

"  Oh,  you  httle  wretch !  "  screamed  Charlotte  ;  seizing 
Oliver  with  her  utmost  force,  which  was  about  equal  to 
that  of  a  moderately  strong  man  in  particularly  good 
training.  "  Oh,  you  little  un-grate-ful,  mur-de-rous,  hor- 
rid villain  ! "     And   between   every  syllable,  Charlotte 


78  OLIVER  TWIST. 

gave  Oliver  a  blow  with  all  her  might :  accompanying 
it  with  a  scream,  for  the  benefit  of  society. 

Charlotte's  fist  was  by  no  means  a  light  one;  but,  lest 
it  should  not  be  effectual  in  calming  Oliver's  wrath,  Mrs. 
Sowerberry  plunged  into  the  kitchen,  and  assisted  to 
hold  him  with  one  hand,  while  she  scratched  his  face 
with  the  other.  In  this  favorable  position  of  affairs, 
Noah  rose  from  the  ground :   and  pommelled  him  behind. 

This  was  rather  too  violent  exercise  to  last  long. 
When  they  were  all  three  wearied  out,  and  could  tear 
and  beat  no  longer,  they  dragged  Oliver,  struggling  and 
shouting,  but  nothing  daunted,  into  the  dust-cellar,  and 
there  locked  him  up.  This  being  done,  Mrs.  Sowerberry 
sunk  into  a  chair,  and  burst  into  tears. 

"Bless  her,  she's  going  off!"  said  Charlotte.  "A 
glass  of  water,  Noah,  dear.     Make  haste  !  " 

"  Oh  !  Charlotte,"  said  Mrs.  Sowerberry :  speaking  as 
well  as  she  could,  through  a  deficiency  of  breath,  and  a 
sufficiency  of  cold  water,  which  Noah  had  poured  over 
her  head  and  shoulders.  "  Oh  !  Charlotte,  what  a  mercy 
we  have  not  all  been  murdered  in  our  beds  !  " 

"  Ah  !  mercy  indeed,  ma'am,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  only 
hope  this  '11  teach  master  not  to  have  any  more  of 
these  dreadful  creatur's,  that  are  born  to  be  murderers 
and  robbers  from  their  very  cradle.  Poor  Noah  !  He 
was  all  but  killed,  ma'am,  when  I  come  in." 

"  Poor  fellow  !  "  said  Mrs.  Sowerberry  :  looking  pite- 
ously  on  the  charity-boy. 

Noah:  whose  top  waistcoat-button  might  have  been 
somewhere  on  a  level  with  the  crown  of  Oliver's  head : 
rubbed  his  eyes  with  the  inside  of  his  wrists  while  this 
commiseration  was  bestowed  upon  him,  and  performed 
some  affecting  tears  and  sniffs. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  79 

"  "What's  to  be  done  ! "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Sowerberry. 
"  Your  master's  not  at  home  ;  there's  not  a  man  in  the 
house  ;  and  he'll  kick  that  door  down,  in  ten  minutes.'* 
Oliver's  vigorous  plunges  against  the  bit  of  timber  in 
question,  rendered  this  occurrence  highly  probable. 

"  Dear,  dear  !  I  don't  know,  ma'am,"  said  Charlotte, 
"  unless  we  send  for  the  police-officers." 

"  Or  the  millingtarj,"  suggested  Mr.  Claypole. 

"  No,  no,"  said  Mrs.  Sowerberrj  ;  bethinking  herself 
of  Oliver's  old  friend.  "  Run  to  Mr.  Bumble,  Noah,  and 
tell  him  to  come  here  directly,  and  not  to  lose  a  minute ; 
never  mind  your  cap  !  Make  haste !  You  can  hold  a 
knife  to  that  black  eye,  as  you  run  along.  It  '11  keep  the 
swelling  down." 

Noah  stopped  to  make  no  reply,  but  started  off  at  his 
fullest  speed  ;  and  very  much  it  astonished  the  people 
who  were  out  walking,  to  see  a  charity -boy  tearing 
through  the  streets  pell-mell,  with  no  cap  on  his  head, 
and  a  clasp-knife  at  his  eye. 


80  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

OLIVER    CONTINUES    REFRACTORY. 

Noah  Claypole  ran  along  the  streets  at  his  swiftest 
pace,  and  paused  not  once  for  breath,  until  he  reached 
the  workhouse-gate.  Having  rested  here,  for  a  minute 
or  so,  to  collect  a  good  burst  of  sobs  and  an  imposing 
show  of  tears  and  terror,  he  knocked  loudly  at  the 
wicket;  and  presented  such  a  rueful  face  to  the  aged 
pauper  who  opened  it,  that  even  he,  who  saw  nothing 
but  rueful  faces  about  him  at  the  best  of  times,  started 
back  in  astonishment. 

"  Why,  what's  the  matter  with  the  boy !  "  said  the  old 
pauper. 

"  Mr.  Bumble  !  Mr.  Bumble  !  "  cried  Noah,  with  well- 
affected  dismay :  and  in  tones  so  loud  and  agitated,  that 
they  not  only  caught  the  ear  of  Mr.  Bumble  himself, 
who  happened  to  be  hard  by,  but  alarmed  him  so  much 
that  he  rushed  into  the  yard  without  his  cocked-hat,  — 
which  is  a  very  curious  and  remarkable  circumstance : 
as  showing  that  even  a  beadle,  acted  upon  by  a  sudden 
and  powerful  impulse,  may  be  afflicted  with  a  momen- 
tary visitation  of  loss  of  self-possession  and  forgetfulness 
of  personal  dignity. 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Bumble,  sir !  "  said  Noah :  "  Oliver,  sir  — 
Oliver  has  " 

"What?    What?"   interposed  Mr.   Bumble:  with  a 


OLIVER  TWIST.  81 

gleam  of  pleasure  in  his  metallic  eyes.  "  Not  run  away  ; 
he  hasn't  run  away,  has  he,  Noah  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  no.  Not  run  away,  sir,  but  he's  turned 
wicious,"  replied  Noah.  "  He  tried  to  murder  me,  sir ; 
and  then  he  tried  to  murder  Charlotte  ;  and  then  missis. 
Oh  !  what  dreadful  pain  it  is !  Such  agony,  please,  sir!" 
And  here,  Noah  writhed  and  twisted  his  body  into  an 
extensive  variety  of  eel-like  positions ;  thereby  giving 
Mr.  Bumble  to  understand  that,  from  the  violent  and 
sanguinary  onset  of  Oliver  Twist,  he  had  sustained 
severe  internal  injury  and  damage,  from  which  he  was, 
at  that  moment,  suffering  the  acutest  torture. 

When  Noah  saw  that  the  intelligence  he  commu- 
nicated perfectly  paralyzed  Mr.  Bumble,  he  imparted 
additional  effect  thereunto,  by  bewailing  his  dreadful 
wounds  ten  times  louder  than  before ;  and,  when  he 
observed  a  gentleman  in  a  white  waistcoat  crossing  the 
yard,  he  was  more  tragic  in  his  lamentations  than  ever : 
rightly  conceiving  it  highly  expedient  to  attract  the  no- 
tice, and  rouse  the  indignation,  of  the  gentleman  aforesaid. 

The  gentleman's  notice  was  very  soon  attracted ;  for 
he  had  not  walked  three  paces,  when  he  turned  angrily 
round,  and  inquired  what  that  young  cur  was  howling 
for ;  and  why  Mr.  Bumble  did  not  favor  him  with  some- 
thing which  would  render  the  series  of  vocular  exclama- 
tions so  designated  an  involuntary  process. 

"  It's  a  poor  boy  from  the  free-school,  sir,"  replied  Mr. 
Bumble,  "  who  has  been  nearly  murdered  —  all  but  mur- 
dered, sir,  —  by  young  Twist." 

"  By  Jove ! "  exclaimed  the  gentleman  in  the  white 
waistcoat,  stopping  short.  "  I  knew  it !  I  felt  a  strange 
presentiment  from  the  very  first,  that  that  audacious 
young  savage  would  come  to  be  hung!" 


82  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  He  has  likewise  attempted,  sir,  to  murder  the  female 
servant,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  with  a  face  of  ashy  paleness. 

"  And  his  missis,"  interposed  Mr.  Claypole. 

"And  his  master,  too,  I  think  you  said,  Noah?" 
added  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  No  ;  he's  out,  or  he  would  have  murdered  him,"  re- 
plied Noah.     "  He  said  he  wanted  to." 

"  Ah  !  Said  he  wanted  to  :  did  he,  my  boy  ?  "  in- 
quired the  gentleman  in  the  white  waistcoat. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Noah.  "  And  please,  sir,  missis 
wants  to  know  whether  Mr.  Bumble  can  spare  time  to  step 
up  there,  directly,  and  flog  him  —  'cause  master's  out." 

"  Certainly,  my  boy ;  certainly,"  said  the  gentleman 
in  the  white  waistcoat :  smiling  benignly,  and  patting 
Noah's  head,  which  was  about  three  inches  higher  than 
his  own.  "You're  a  good  boy — a  very  good  boy.  Here's 
a  penny  for  you.  Bumble,  just  step  up  to  Sowerberry's 
with  your  cane,  and  see  what's  best  to  be  done.  Don't 
spare  him.  Bumble." 

"  No,  I  will  not,  sir,"  replied  the  beadle  :  adjusting  the 
wax-end  which  was  twisted  round  the  bottom  of  his  cane, 
for  purposes  of  parochial  flagellation. 

"  Tell  Sowerberry  not  to  spare  him  either.  They'll 
never  do  anything  with  him,  without  stripes  and  bruises," 
said  the  gentleman  in  the  white  waistcoat. 

"  I'll  take  care,  sir,"  replied  the  beadle.  And  the 
cocked-hat  and  cane  having  been,  by  this  time,  adjusted 
to  their  owner's  satisfaction,  Mr.  Bumble  and  Noah  Clay- 
pole  betook  themselves  with  all  speed  to  the  undertaker's 
shop. 

Here,  the  position  of  affairs  had  not  at  all  improved. 
Sowerberry  had  not  yet  returned,  and  Oliver  continued 
to  kick,  with  undiminished  vigor,  at  the  cellar-door.    The 


OLIVER  TWIST.  83 

accounts  of  his  ferocity,  as  related  by  Mrs.  Sowerberry 
and  Charlotte,  were  of  so  startling  a  nature,  that  Mr. 
Bumble  judged  it  prudent  to  parley,  before  opening  the 
door.  With  this  view,  he  gave  a  kick  at  the  outside,  by 
way  of  prelude  ;  and  then,  applying  his  mouth  to  the 
key-hole,  said,  in  a  deep  and  impressive  tone : 

"  Oliver ! " 

"  Come  ;  you  let  me  out ! "  repHed  Oliver,  from  the 
inside. 

"  Do  you  know  this  here  voice,  Oliver  ?  "  said  Mr. 
Bumble. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  A'n't  you  afraid  of  it,  sir  ?  A'n't  you  a-trembling 
while  I  speak,  sir  ?  "  said  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  No,"  replied  Oliver  boldly. 

An  answer  so  different  from  the  one  he  had  expected 
to  elicit,  and  was  in  the  habit  of  receiving,  staggered  Mr. 
Bumble  not  a  httle.  He  stepped  back  from  the  key- 
hole; drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height;  and  looked  from 
one  to  another  of  the  three  bystanders,  in  mute  astonish- 
ment. 

"  Oh,  you  know,  Mr.  Bumble,  he  must  be  mad,"  said 
Mrs.  Sowerberry.  "  No  boy  in  half  his  senses  could 
venture  to  speak  so  to  you." 

"  It's  not  Madness,  ma'am,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble,  after 
a  few  moments  of  deep  meditation.     "  It's  Meat." 

"  What  ?  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Sowerberry. 

"  Meat,  ma'am,  meat,"  replied  Bumble,  with  stern  em- 
phasis, "  You've  overfed  him,  ma'am.  You've  raised  a 
artificial  soul  and  spirit  in  him,  ma'am,  unbecoming  a 
person  of  his  condition :  as  the  board,  Mrs.  Sower- 
berry, who  are  practical  philosophers,  will  tell  you. 
What  have  paupers  to  do  with  soul  or  spirit  ?     It's  quite 


84  OLIVER  TWIST. 

enough  that  we  let  'em  have  live  bodies.  If  you  had 
kept  the  boy  on  gruel,  ma'am,  this  would  never  have 
happened." 

"  Dear,  dear !  "  ejaculated  Mrs.  Sowerberry,  piously 
raising  her  eyes  to  the  kitchen  ceiling :  ''  this  comes  of 
being  liberal ! " 

The  liberality  of  Mrs.  Sowerberry  to  Oliver,  had  con- 
sisted in  a  profuse  bestowal  upon  him  of  all  the  dirty 
odds  and  ends  which  nobody  else  would  eat ;  so,  there 
was  a  great  deal  of  meekness  and  self-devotion  in  her 
voluntarily  remaining  under  Mr.  Bumble's  heavy  accu- 
sation :  of  which,  to  do  her  justice,  she  was  wholly  in- 
nocent, in  thought,  word,  or  deed. 

"  Ah  !  "  said  Mr.  Bumble,  when  the  lady  brought  her 
eyes  down  to  earth  again  ;  "  the  only  thing  that  can  be 
done  now,  that  I  know  of,  is  to  leave  him  in  the  cellar 
for  a  day  or  so,  till  he's  a  little  starved  down  ;  and  then 
to  take  him  out,  and  keep  him  on  gruel  all  through  his 
apprenticeship.  He  comes  of  a  bad  family.  Excitable 
natures,  Mrs.  Sowerberry  !  Both  the  nurse  and  doctor 
said,  that  that  mother  of  his  made  her  way  here,  against 
difficulties  and  pain  that  would  have  killed  any  well-dis- 
posed woman,  weeks  before." 

At  this  point  of  Mr.  Bumble's  discourse,  OHver,  just 
hearing  enough  to  know  that  some  new  allusion  was 
being  made  to  his  mother,  recommenced  kicking,  with 
a  violence  that  rendered  every  other  sound  inaudible. 
Sowerberry  returned  at  this  juncture.  Oliver's  offence 
having  been  explained  to  him,  with  such  exaggerations 
as  the  ladies  thought  best  calculated  to  rouse  his  ire,  he 
unlocked  the  cellar-door  in  a  twinkling,  and  dragged  his 
rebellious  apprentice  out,  by  the  collar. 

Oliver's  clothes  had  been  torn  in  the  beating  he  had 


OLIVER  TWIST.  85 

received ;  his  face  was  bruised  and  scratched  ;  and  his 
hair  scattered  over  his  forehead.  The  angry  flash  had 
not  disappeared,  however ;  and  when  he  was  pulled  out 
of  his  prison,  he  scowled  boldly  on  Noah,  and  looked 
quite  undismayed. 

"  Now,  you  are  a  nice  young  fellow,  a'n't  you  ? " 
said  Sowerberry  j  giving  OUver  a  shake,  and  a  box  on 
the  ear. 

"  He  called  my  mother  names,"  rephed  Oliver. 

"  Well,  and  what  if  he  did,  you  little  ungrateful 
wretch?"  said  Mrs.  Sowerberry.  "She  deserved  what 
he  said,  and  worse." 

"  She  didn't,"  said  Oliver. 

"  She  did,"  said  Mrs.  Sowerberry. 

"  It's  a  lie  !  "  said  Oliver. 

Mrs.  Sowerberry  burst  into  a  flood  of  tears. 

This  flood  of  tears  left  Mr.  Sowerberry  no  alternative. 
If  he  had  hesitated  for  one  instant  to  punish  Oliver  most 
severely,  it  must  be  quite  clear  to  every  experienced 
reader  that  he  would  have  been,  according  to  all  prece- 
dents in  disputes  of  matrimony  established,  a  brute,  an 
unnatural  husband,  an  insulting  creature,  a  base  imi- 
tation of  a  man,  and  various  other  agreeable  characters 
too  numerous  for  recital  within  the  limits  of  this  chap- 
ter. To  do  him  justice,  he  was,  as  far  as  his  power 
went,  —  it  was  not  very  extensive,  —  kindly  disposed 
towards  the  boy ;  perhaps,  because  it  was  his  inter- 
est to  be  so ;  perhaps,  because  his  wife  disliked  him. 
The  flood  of  tears,  however,  left  him  no  resource;  so 
he  at  once  gave  him  a  drubbing,  which  satisfied  even 
Mrs.  Sowerberry  herself;  and  rendered  Mr.  Bumble's 
subsequent  application  of  the  parochial  cane,  rather  un- 
necessary.    For  the  rest  of  the  day,  he  was  shut  up  in 


86  OLIVER  TWIST. 

the  back  kitchen,  in  company  with  a  pump  and  a  slice 
of  bread ;  and,  at  night,  Mrs.  Sowerberry,  after  making 
various  remarks  outside  the  door,  by  no  means  compli- 
mentary to  the  memory  of  his  mother,  looked  into  the 
room,  and,  amidst  the  jeers  and  pointings  of  Noah  and 
Charlotte,  ordered  him  up-stairs  to  his  dismal  bed. 

It  was  not  until  he  was  left  alone  in  the  silence  and 
stillness  of  the  gloomy  workshop  of  the  undertaker,  that 
Oliver  gave  way  to  the  feelings  which  the  day's  treat- 
ment may  be  supposed  likely  to  have  awakened  in  a 
mere  child.  He  had  listened  to  their  taunts  with  a  look 
of  contempt ;  he  had  borne  the  lash  without  a  cry :  for 
he  felt  that  pride  swelling  in  his  heart  which  would  have 
kept  down  a  shriek  to  the  last,  though  they  had  roasted 
him  alive.  But  now,  when  there  were  none  to  see  or 
hear  him,  he  fell  upon  his  knees  on  the  floor ;  and, 
hiding  his  face  in  his  hands,  wept  such  tears  as,  God 
send  for  the  credit  of  our  nature,  few  so  young  may  ever 
have  cause  to  pour  out  before  him  ! 

For  a  long  time,  Oliver  remained  motionless  in  this 
attitude.  The  candle  was  burning  low  in  the  socket 
when  he  rose  to  his  feet.  Having  gazed  cautiously 
round  him,  and  listened  intently,  he  gently  undid  the 
fastenings  of  the  door,  and  looked  abroad. 

It  was  a  cold,  dark  night.  The  stars  seemed,  to  the 
boy's  eyes,  farther  from  the  earth  than  he  had  ever  seen 
them  before  ;  there  was  no  wind  ;  and  the  sombre  shad- 
ows thrown  by  the  trees  upon  the  ground,  looked  sepul- 
chral and  deathlike,  from  being  so  still.  He  softly 
reclosed  the  door.  Having  availed  himself  of  the  ex- 
piring light  of  the  candle  to  tie  up  in  a  handkerchief  the 
few  articles  of  wearing  apparel  he  had,  sat  himself  down 
upon  a  bench,  to  wait  for  morning. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  87 

With  the  first  ray  of  Hght  that  struggled  through  the 
crevices  in  the  shutters,  Oliver  arose,  and  again  unbarred 
the  door.  One  timid  look  around,  —  one  moment's  pause 
of  hesitation,  —  he  had  closed  it  behind  him,  and  was  in 
the  open  street. 

He  looked  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  uncertain 
whither  to  fly.  He  remembered  to  have  seen  the 
wagons,  as  they  went  out,  toiling  up  the  hill.  He  took 
the  same  route ;  and  arriving  at  a  footpath  across  the 
fields  :  which  he  knew,  after  some  distance,  led  out  again 
into  the  road :  struck  into  it,  and  walked  quickly  on. 

Along  this  same  footpath,  Oliver  well  remembered  he 
had  trotted  beside  INIr.  Bumble,  when  he  first  carried  him 
to  the  workhouse  from  the  farm.  His  way  lay  directly 
in  front  of  the  cottage.  His  heart  beat  quickly  when  he 
bethought  himself  of  this ;  and  he  half  resolved  to  turn 
back.  He  had  come  a  long  way  though,  and  should  lose 
a  great  deal  of  time  by  doing  so.  Besides,  it  was  so 
early  that  there  was  very  little  fear  of  his  being  seen ; 
so  he  walked  on. 

He  reached  the  house.  There  was  no  appearance  of 
its  inmates  stirring  at  that  early  hour.  Oliver  stopped, 
and  peeped  into  the  garden.  A  child  was  weeding  one 
of  the  httle  beds ;  as  he  stopped,  he  raised  his  pale  face 
and  disclosed  the  features  of  one  of  his  former  com- 
panions. Oliver  felt  glad  to  see  him,  before  he  went ; 
for,  though  younger  than  himself,  he  had  been  his  little 
friend  and  playmate.  They  had  been  beaten,  and  starved, 
and  shut  up  together,  many  and  many  a  time. 

"  Hush,  Dick ! "  said  OUver,  as  the  boy  ran  to  the 
gate,  and  thrust  his  thin  arm  between  the  rails  to  greet 
him.     "  Is  any  one  up  ?  " 

"  Nobody  but  me,"  replied  the  child. 


88  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  You  mustn't  say  you  saw  me,  Dick,"  said  Oliver. 
"  I  am  running  away.  They  beat  and  ill-use  me,  Dick  ; 
and  I  am  going  to  seek  my  fortune,  some  long  way  off. 
I  don't  know  where.     How  pale  you  are  !  " 

"  I  heard  the  doctor  tell  them  I  was  dying,"  repHed 
the  child  with  a  faint  smile.  "  I  am  very  glad  to  see 
you,  dear ;  but  don't  stop,  don't  stop  !  " 

"  Yes,  yes,  I  will,  to  say  good-b'ye  to  you,"  replied 
Oliver.  "  I  shall  see  you  again,  Dick.  I  know  I  shall ! 
You  will  be  well  and  happy  !  " 

"  I  hope  so,"  replied  the  child.  "  After  I  am  dead, 
but  not  before.  I  know  the  doctor  must  be  right,  Oliver, 
because  I  dream  so  much  of  Heaven,  and  Angels,  and 
kind  faces  that  I  never  see  when  I  am  awake.  Kiss 
me,"  said  the  child,  climbing  up  the  low  gate,  and  fling- 
ing his  little  arms  round  Oliver's  neck  :  "  Good-b'ye, 
dear !     God  bless  you  ! " 

The  blessing  was  from  a  young  child's  lips,  but  it  was 
the  first  that  OHver  had  ever  heard  invoked  upon  his 
head ;  and  through  the  struggles  and  sufferings,  and 
troubles  and  changes,  of  his  after-Hfe,  he  never  once 
forgot  it. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  89 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

OLIVER  WALKS  TO  LONDON.  HE  ENCOUNTERS  ON 
THE  ROAD  A  STRANGE  SORT  OF  YOUNG  GENTLE- 
MAN. 

Oliver  reached  the  stile  at  which  the  by-path  termi- 
mated ;  and  once  more  gained  the  high-road.  It  was 
eight  o'clock  now.  Though  he  was  nearly  five  miles 
away  from  the  town,  he  ran,  and  hid  behind  the  hedges, 
by  turns,  till  noon :  fearing  that  he  might  be  pursued  and 
overtaken.  Then  he  sat  down  to  rest  by  the  side  of  a 
mile-stone,  and  began  to  think,  for  the  first  time,  where 
he  had  better  go  and  try  to  live. 

The  stone  by  which  he  was  seated,  bore,  in  large 
characters,  an  intimation  that  it  was  just  seventy  miles 
from  that  spot  to  London.  The  name  awakened  a  new 
train  of  ideas  in  the  boy's  mind.  London  !  —  that  great 
large  place  !  —  nobody  —  not  even  Mr.  Bumble  —  could 
ever  find  him  there  !  He  had  often  heard  the  old  men 
in  the  workhouse,  too,  say  that  no  lad  of  spirit  need  want 
in  London  ;  and  that  there  were  ways  of  living  in  that 
vast  city,  which  those  who  had  been  bred  up  in  country 
parts  had  no  idea  of.  It  was  the  very  place  for  a  home- 
less boy,  who  must  die  in  the  streets  unless  some  one 
helped  him.  As  these  things  passed  through  his 
thoughts,  he  jumped  upon  his  feet,  and  again  walked 
forward. 


90  OLIVER  TWIST. 

He  had  diminished  the  distance  between  himself  and 
London  by  full  four  miles  more,  before  he  recollected 
how  much  he  must  undergo  ere  he  could  hope  to  reach 
his  place  of  destination.  As  this  consideration  forced 
itself  upon  him,  he  slackened  his  pace  a  little,  and  medi- 
tated upon  his  means  of  getting  there.  He  had  a  crust 
of  bread,  a  coarse  shirt,  and  two  pairs  of  stockings  in 
his  bundle.  He  had  a  penny  too  —  a  gift  of  Sower- 
berry's,  after  some  funeral  in  which  he  had  acquitted 
himself  more  than  ordinarily  well  —  in  his  pocket.  "  A 
clean  shirt,"  thought  Oliver,  "  is  a  very  comfortable 
thing,  very ;  and  so  are  two  pairs  of  darned  stockings  ; 
and  so  is  a  penny ;  but  they  are  small  helps  to  a  sixty- 
five  miles'  walk  in  winter  time."  But  Oliver's  thoughts, 
like  those  of  most  other  peoj)le,  although  they  were  ex- 
tremely ready  and  active  to  point  out  his  difficulties,  were 
wholly  at  a  loss  to  suggest  any  feasible  mode  of  sur- 
mounting them ;  so  after  a  good  deal  of  thinking  to  no 
particular  purpose,  he  changed  his  little  bundle  over  to 
the  other  shoulder,  and  trudged  on. 

Oliver  walked  twenty  miles  that  day ;  and  all  that 
time  tasted  nothing  but  the  crust  of  dry  bread,  and  a  few 
draughts  of  water,  which  he  begged  at  the  cottage-doors 
by  the  roadside.  When  the  night  came,  he  turned  into  a 
meadow  ;  and,  creeping  close  under  a  hayrick,  determined 
to  lie  there  till  morning.  He  felt  frightened  at  first ;  for 
the  wind  moaned  dismally  over  the  empty  fields  ;  and 
he  was  cold  and  hungry,  and  more  alone  than  he  had 
ever  felt  before.  Being  very  tired  with  his  walk,  how- 
ever, he  soon  fell  asleep  and  forgot  his  troubles. 

He  felt  cold  and  stiff,  when  he  got  up  next  morning, 
and  so  hungry,  that  he  was  obliged  to  exchange  the  penny 
for  a  small  loaf,  in  the  very  first  village  through  which 


OLIYEK  TWIST.  91 

he  passed.  He  had  walked  no  more  than  twelve  miles, 
when  night  closed  in  again.  His  feet  were  sore,  and  his 
legs  so  weak  that  they  trembled  beneath  him.  Another 
night  passed  in  the  bleak  damp  air,  made  him  worse  ; 
when  he  set  forward  on  his  journey  next  morning,  he 
could  hardly  crawl  along. 

He  waited  at  the  bottom  of  a  steep  hill  till  a  stage- 
coach came  up,  and  then  begged  of  the  outside  passen- 
gers ;  but  there  were  very  few  who  took  any  notice  of 
him  ;  and  even  those  told  him  to  wait  till  they  got  to  the 
top  of  the  hill,  and  then  let  them  see  how  far  he  could 
run  for  a  halfpenny.  Poor  Oliver  tried  to  keep  up  with 
the  coach  a  little  way,  but  was  unable  to  do  it,  by  reason 
of  his  fatigue  and  sore  feet.  When  the  outsides  saw 
this,  they  put  their  halfpence  back  into  their  pockets 
again  :  declaring  that  he  was  an  idle  young  dog,  and 
didn't  deserve  anything ;  and  the  coach  rattled  away  and 
left  only  a  cloud  of  dust  behind. 

In  some  villages,  large  painted  boards  were  fixed  up  ; 
warning  all  persons  who  begged  within  the  district,  that 
they  would  be  sent  to  jail.  This  frightened  Oliver  very 
much,  and  made  him  glad  to  get  out  of  those  villages 
with  all  possible  expedition.  In  others,  he  would  stand 
about  the  inn-yards,  and  look  mournfully  at  every  one 
who  passed :  a  proceeding  which  generally  terminated  in 
the  landlady's  ordering  one  of  the  post-boys  who  were 
lounging  about,  to  drive  that  strange  boy  out  of  the 
place,  for  she  was  sure  he  had  come  to  steal  something. 
If  he  begged  at  a  farmer's  house,  ten  to  one  but  they 
threatened  to  set  the  dog  on  him ;  and  when  he  showed 
his  nose  in  a  shop,  they  talked  about  the  beadle  :  which 
brought  Ohver's  heart  into  his  mouth,  —  very  often  the 
only  thing  he  had  there,  for  many  hours  together. 


92  OLIVER  TWIST. 

In  fact,  if  it  had  not  been  for  a  good-hearted  turnpike- 
man,  and  a  benevolent  old  lady,  Oliver's  troubles  would 
have  been  shortened  by  the  very  same  i3rocess  which 
had  put  an  end  to  his  mother's ;  in  other  words,  he 
would  most  assuredly  have  fallen  dead  upon  the  king's 
highway.  But  the  turnpike-man  gave  him  a  meal  of 
bread  and  cheese ;  and  the  old  lady,  who  had  a  ship- 
wrecked grandson  wandering  barefooted  in  some  distant 
part  of  the  earth,  took  pity  upon  the  poor  orphan ;  and 
gave  him  what  little  she  could  afford — and  more  —  with 
such  kind  and  gentle  words,  and  such  tears  of  sympathy 
and  compassion,  that  they  sank  deeper  into  Oliver's  soul, 
than  all  the  sufferings  he  had  ever  undergone. 

Early  on  the  seventh  morning  after  he  had  left  his 
native  place,  Oliver  limped  slowly  into  the  little  town  of 
Barnet.  The  window-shutters  were  closed;  the  street 
was  empty ;  not  a  soul  had  awakened  to  the  business  of 
the  day.  The  sun  was  rising  in  all  his  splendid  beauty ; 
but  the  light  only  served  to  show  the  boy  his  own  lone- 
someness  and  desolation,  as  he  sat,  with  bleeding  feet 
and  covered  with  dust,  upon  a  cold  door-step. 

By  degrees,  the  shutters  were  opened;  the  window- 
blinds  were  drawn  up ;  and  people  began  passing  to  and 
fro.  Some  few  stopped  to  gaze  at  Oliver  for  a  moment 
or  two,  or  turned  round  to  stare  at  him  as  they  hurried 
by;  but  none  relieved  him,  or  troubled  themselves  to 
inquire  how  he  came  there.  He  had  no  heart  to  beg. 
And  there  he  sat. 

He  had  been  crouching  on  the  step  for  some  time : 
wondering  at  the  great  number  of  public-houses,  (every 
other  house  in  Barnet  was  a  tavern,  large  or  small:) 
gazing  listlessly  at  the  coaches  as  they  passed  through : 
and  thinking  how  strange  it  seemed  that  they  could  do, 


OLIVER  TWIST.  93 

with  ease,  in  a  few  hours,  what  it  had  taken  him  a  whole 
week  of  courage  and  determination  beyond  his  years  to 
accomphsh :  when  he  was  roused  by  observing  that  a  boy, 
who  had  passed  him  carelessly  some  minutes  before,  had 
returned,  and  was  now  surveying  him  most  earnestly  from 
the  opposite  side  of  the  way.  He  took  httle  heed  of  this 
at  first ;  but,  the  boy  remained  in  the  same  attitude  of 
close  observation  so  long,  that  OHver  raised  his  head, 
and  returned  his  steady  look.  Upon  this,  the  boy  crossed 
over ;  and,  walking  close  up  to  Oliver,  said, 

"  Hullo  !  my  covey,  what's  the  row  ?  " 

The  boy  who  addressed  this  inquiry  to  the  young 
wayfarer,  was  about  his  own  age :  but  one  of  the  queerest 
looking  boys  that  Oliver  had  ever  seen.  He  was  a  snub- 
nosed,  flat-browed,  common-faced  boy  enough;  and  as 
dirty  a  juvenile  as  one  would  wish  to  see ;  but  he  had 
about  him  all  the  airs  and  manners  of  a  man.  He  was 
short  of  his  age :  with  rather  bow  legs,  and  little,  sharp, 
ugly  eyes.  His  hat  was  stuck  on  the  top  of  his  head  so 
lightly,  that  it  threatened  to  fall  off  every  moment  — 
and  would  have  done  so,  very  often,  if  the  wearer  had  not 
had  a  knack  of  every  now  and  then  giving  his  head  a 
sudden  twitch:  which  brought  it  back  to  its  old  place 
again.  He  wore  a  man's  coat,  which  reached  nearly  to 
his  heels.  He  had  turned  the  cuffs  back,  half-way  up 
his  arm,  to  get  his  hands  out  of  the  sleeves :  apparently 
with  the  ultimate  view  of  thrusting  them  into  the  pockets 
of  his  corduroy  trousers ;  for  there  he  kept  them.  He 
was,  altogether,  as  roystering  and  swaggering  a  young 
gentleman  as  ever  stood  four  feet  six,  or  something  less, 
in  his  bluchers. 

"  Hullo,  my  covey,  what's  the  row  ?  "  said  this  strange 
young  gentleman  to  OHver. 


94  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  I  am  very  hungry  and  tired,"  replied  Oliver :  the 
tears  standing  in  his  eyes  as  he  spoke.  "  I  have 
walked  a  long  way.  I  have  been  walking  these  seven 
days." 

"  Walking  for  sivin  days  !  "  said  the  young  gentleman. 
"  Oh,  I  see.  Beak's  order,  eh  ?  But,"  he  added,  notic- 
ing Oliver's  look  of  surprise,  "  I  suppose  you  don't  know 
what  a  beak  is,  my  flash  com-pan-i-on." 

Oliver  mildly  replied,  that  he  had  always  heard  a  bird's 
mouth  described  by  the  term  in  question. 

"  My  eyes,  how  green  !  "  exclaimed  the  young  gentle- 
man. "  Why  a  beak's  a  madgst'rate ;  and  when  you 
walk  by  a  beak's  order,  it's  not  straight  forerd,  but  al- 
ways a-going  up,  and  niver  a-coming  down  agin.  Was 
you  never  on  the  mill  ?  " 

"  What  mill  ?  "  inquired  Oliver. 

"  What  mill  ?  —  why,  the  mill  —  the  mill  as  takes  up 
so  little  room  that  it'll  work  inside  a  Stone  Jug ;  and  al- 
ways goes  better  when  the  wind's  low  with  people,  than 
when  it's  high  ;  acos  then  they  can't  get  workmen.  But 
come,"  said  the  young  gentleman  ;  "  you  want  grub,  and 
you  shall  have  it.  I'm  at  low-water-mark  myself —  only 
one  bob  and  a  magpie ;  but,  as  far  as  it  goes,  I'll  fork 
out  and  stump.  Up  with  you  on  your  pins.  There  ! 
Now  then  !     Morrice  !  " 

Assisting  Oliver  to  rise,  the  young  gentleman  took 
him  to  an  adjacent  chandler's  shop,  where  he  purchased 
a  sufficiency  of  ready-dressed  ham  and  a  half-quartern 
loaf,  or,  as  he  himself  expressed  it,  "  a  fourpenny  bran ; " 
the  ham  being  kept  clean  and  preserved  from  dust,  by 
the  ingenious  expedient  of  making  a  hole  in  the  loaf  by 
pulHng  out  a  portion  of  the  crumb,  and  stuffing  it  therein. 
Taking  the  bread  under  his  arm,  the  young  gentleman 


OLIVER  TWIST.  95 

turned  into  a  small  public-house,  and  led  the  way  to  a 
tap-room  in  the  rear  of  the  premises.  Here,  a  pot  of 
beer  was  brought  in,  by  direction  of  the  mysterious 
youth  ;  and  Ohver,  falling  to,  at  his  new  friend's  bidding, 
made  a  long  and  hearty  meal,  during  the  progress  of 
which,  the  strange  boy  eyed  him  from  time  to  time  with 
great  attention. 

"  Going  to  London  ? "  said  the  strange  boy,  when 
Oliver  had  at  length  concluded. 

"  Yes." 

"  Got  any  lodgings  ?  " 

"  No." 

«  Money  ?  " 

"  No." 

The  strange  boy  whistled  ;  and  put  his  arms  into 
his  pockets,  as  far  as  the  big  coat-sleeves  would  let 
them  go. 

"  Do  you  live  in  London  ?  "  inquired  Oliver. 

"  Yes.  I  do,  when  I'm  at  home,"  replied  the  boy. 
"I  suppose  you  want  some  place  to  sleep  in  to-night, 
don't  you?" 

"  I  do  indeed,"  answered  Oliver.  "  I  have  not  slept 
under  a  roof  since  I  left  the  country." 

"  Don't  fret  your  eyelids  on  that  score,"  said  the  young 
gentleman.  "  I've  got  to  be  in  London  to-night ;  and  I 
know  a  'spectable  old  genelman  as  lives  there,  wot  '11  give 
you  lodgings  for  nothink,  and  never  ask  for  the  change 
—  that  is,  if  any  genelman  he  knows  interduces  you. 
And  don't  he  know  me?  Oh,  no!  Not  in  the  least ! 
By  no  means.     Certainly  not ! " 

The  young  gentleman  smiled,  as  if  to  intimate  that  the 
latter  fragments  of  discourse  were  playfully -ironical ;  and 
finished  the  beer  as  he  did  so. 


96  OLIVER  TWIST. 

This  unexpected  offer  of  shelter,  was  too  tempting  to 
be  resisted :  especially  as  it  was  immediately  followed 
up,  by  the  assurance  that  the  old  gentleman  already 
referred  to,  would  doubtless  provide  Oliver  with  a  com- 
fortable place,  without  loss  of  time.  This  led  to  a  more 
friendly  and  confidential  dialogue ;  from  which  Oliver 
discovered  that  his  friend's  name  was  Jack  Dawkins,  and 
that  he  was  a  peculiar  pet  and  protege  of  the  elderly 
gentleman  before  mentioned. 

Mr.  Dawkins's  appearance  did  not  say  a  vast  deal  in 
favor  of  the  comforts  which  his  patron's  interest  obtained 
for  those  whom  he  took  under  his  protection  ;  but,  as  he 
had  a  rather  flighty  and  dissolute  mode  of  conversing, 
and  furthermore  avowed  that  among  his  intimate  friends 
he  was  better  known  by  the  sobriquet  of  "  The  artful 
Dodger,"  Oliver  concluded  that,  being  of  a  dissipated 
and  careless  turn,  the  moral  precepts  of  his  benefactor 
had  hitherto  been  thrown  away  upon  him.  Under  this 
impression,  he  secretly  resolved  to  cultivate  the  good  opin- 
ion of  the  old  gentleman  as  quickly  as  possible ;  and,  if 
he  found  the  Dodger  incorrigible,  as  he  more  than  half 
suspected  he  should,  to  decline  the  honor  of  his  further 
acquaintance. 

As  John  Dawkins  objected  to  their  entering  London 
before  nightfall,  it  was  nearly  eleven  o'clock  when  they 
reached  the  turnpike  at  Islington.  They  crossed  from 
the  Angel  into  St.  John's  road ;  struck  down  the  small 
street  which  terminates  at  Sadler's  Wells  Theatre ; 
through  Exmouth-street  and  Coppice-row ;  down  the 
little  court  by  the  side  of  the  workhouse ;  across  the 
classic  ground  which  once  bore  the  name  of  Hockley-in- 
the-Hole  ;  thence  into  Little  Saffron-hill ;  and  so  into 
Saffron-hill  the  Great :  along  which,  the  Dodger  scudded 


OLIVEK  TWIST.  97 

at  a  rapid  pace,  directing  Oliver  to  follow  close  at  his 
heels. 

Although  Oliver  had  enough  to  occupy  his  attentiou 
in  keeping  sight  of  his  leader,  he  could  not  help  bestow- 
ing a  few  hasty  glances  on  either  side  of  the  way,  as  he 
passed  along.  A  dirtier  or  more  wretched  place  he  had 
never  seen.  The  street  was  very  narrow  and  muddy, 
and  the  air  was  impregnated  with  filthy  odors.  There 
were  a  good  many  small  shops ;  but  the  only  stock  in 
trade  appeared  to  be  heaps  of  children,  who,  even  at 
that  time  of  night,  were  crawling  in  and  out  at  the  doors, 
or  screaming  from  the  inside.  The  sole  places  that 
seemed  to  prosper,  amid  the  general  blight  of  the  place, 
were  the  public-houses  ;  and  in  them,  the  lowest  orders 
of  Irish  were  wrangling  with  might  and  main.  Covered 
ways  and  yards,  which  here  and  there  diverged  from 
the  main  street,  disclosed  httle  knots  of  houses,  where 
drunken  men  and  women  were  positively  wallowing 
in  filth ;  and  from  several  of  the  door-ways,  great  ill- 
looking  fellows  were  cautiously  emerging :  bound,  to 
all  appearance,  on  no  very  well-disposed  or  harmless 
errands. 

Oliver  was  just  considering  whether  he  hadn't  better 
run  away,  when  they  reached  the  bottom  of  the  hill. 
His  conductor,  catching  him  by  the  arm,  pushed  open 
the  door  of  a  house  near  Field-lane  ;  and,  drawing  him 
into  the  passage,  closed  it  behind  them. 

"  Now,  then  ! "  cried  a  voice  from  below,  in  reply  to  a 
whistle  from  the  Dodger. 

"  Plummy  and  slam  ! "  was  the  reply. 

This  seemed  to  be  some  watchword  or  signal  that  all 
was  right ;  for  the  light  of  a  feeble  candle  gleamed  on 
the  wall  at  the  remote  end  of  the  passage ;  and  a  man's 


98  OLIVER  TWIST. 

face  peeped  out,  from  where  a  balustrade  of  the  old 
kitchen  staircase  had  been  broken  away. 

"  There's  two  on  you,"  said  the  man,  thrusting  the 
candle  farther  out,  and  shading  his  eyes  with  his  hand. 
"  Who's  the  t'other  one  ?  " 

"  A  new  pal,"  replied  Jack  Dawkins,  pulling  Oliver 
forward. 

"  Where  did  he  come  from  ?  " 

"  Greenland.     Is  Fagin  up-stairs  ?  " 

"  Yes,  he's  a-sortin'  the  wipes.  Up  with  you  ! "  The 
candle  was  drawn  back,  and  the  face  disappeared. 

Oliver,  groping  his  way  with  one  hand,  and  having 
the  other  firmly  grasped  by  his  companion,  ascended 
with  much  difficulty  the  dark  and  broken  stairs :  which 
his  conductor  mounted  with  an  ease  and  expedition  that 
showed  he  was  well  acquainted  with  them.  He  threw 
open  the  door  of  a  back-room,  and  drew  Oliver  in  after 
him. 

The  walls  and  ceiling  of  the  room  were  perfectly 
black,  with  age  and  dirt.  There  was  a  deal  table  before 
the  fire  :  upon  which  were  a  candle,  stuck  in  a  ginger- 
beer  bottle  :  two  or  three  pewter  pots  :  a  loaf  and  butter: 
and  a  plate.  In  a  frying-pan,  which  was  on  the  fire,  and 
which  was  secured  to  the  mantel-shelf  by  a  string,  some 
sausages  were  cooking ;  and  standing  over  them,  with  a 
toasting-fork  in  his  hand,  was  a  very  old  shrivelled  Jew, 
whose  villanous-looking  and  repulsive  face  was  obscured 
by  a  quantity  of  matted  red  hair.  He  was  dressed  in  a 
greasy  flannel  gown,  with  his  throat  bare ;  and  seemed 
to  be  dividing  his  attention  between  the  frying-pan  and  a 
clothes-horse,  over  which  a  great  number  of  silk  hand- 
kerchiefs were  hanging.  Several  rough  beds  made  of 
old  sacks,  were  huddled  side  by  side  on  the  floor.     Seated 


OLIVER  TWIST.  99 

round  the  table  were  four  or  five  boys :  none  older  than 
the  Dodger  :  smoking  long  clay  pipes,  and  drinking  spir- 
its with  the  air  of  middle-aged  men.  These  all  crowded 
about  their  associate  as  he  whispered  a  few  words  to  the 
Jew  ;  and  then  turned  round  and  grinned  at  Oliver.  So 
did  the  Jew  himself:  toasting-fork  in  hand. 

"  This  is  him,  Fagin,"  said  Jack  Dawkins ;  "  my  friend 
Oliver  Twist." 

The  Jew  grinned  ;  and,  making  a  low  obeisance  to 
Oliver,  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  hoped  he  should  have 
the  honor  of  his  intimate  acquaintance.  Upon  this,  the 
young  gentlemen  with  the  pipes  came  round  him,  and 
shook  both  his  hands  very  hard  —  especially  the  one  in 
which  he  held  his  little  bundle.  One  young  gentleman 
was  very  anxious  to  hang  up  his  cap  for  him ;  and 
another  was  so  obliging  as  to  put  his  hands  in  his  pock- 
ets, in  order  that,  as  he  was  very  tired,  he  might  not  have 
the  trouble  of  emptying  them,  himself,  when  he  went  to 
bed.  These  civilities  would  probably  have  been  extended 
much  farther,  but  for  ^  liberal  exercise  of  the  Jew's  toast- 
ing-fork on  the  heads  and  shoulders  of  the  affectionate 
youths  who  offered  them. 

"  We  are  very  glad  to  see  you,  Oliver  —  very,"  said 
the  Jew.  "  Dodger,  take  off  the  sausages  ;  and  draw  a 
tub  near  the  fire  for  Oliver.  Ah,  you're  a-staring  at  the 
pocket-handkerchiefs  !  eh,  my  dear  !  There  are  a  good 
many  of  'em,  a'n't  there  ?  We've  just  looked  'em  out, 
ready  for  the  wash  ;  that's  all,  Oliver  ;  that's  all.  Ha  ! 
ha  !  ha !  " 

The  latter  part  of  this  speech  was  hailed  by  a  boister- 
ous shout  from  all  the  hopeful  pupils  of  the  merry  old 
gentleman.     In  the  midst  of  which,  they  went  to  supper 

Oliver  ate  his  share,  and  the  Jew  then  mixed  him  a 


100  OLIVER  TWIST. 

glass  of  hot  gin  and  water  :  telling  him  he  must  drink  it 
off  directly,  because  another  gentleman  wanted  the  tum- 
bler. Oliver  did  as  he  was  desired.  Immediately  after- 
wards, he  felt  himself  gently  lifted  on  to  one  of  the  sacks; 
and  then  he  sunk  into  a  deep  sleep. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  lUi 


CHAPTER  IX. 

COXTAIXIXG  FURTHER  PARTICULARS  CONCERNING  THE 
PLEASANT  OLD  GENTLEMAN,  AND  HIS  HOPEFUL 
PUPILS. 

It  was  late  next  morning  when  Oliver  awoke,  from  a 
sound,  long  sleep.  There  was  no  other  person  in  the 
room  but  the  old  Jew,  who  was  boiling  some  coffee  in  a 
saucepan  for  breakfast,  and  whistling  softly  to  himself  as 
he  stirred  it  round  and  round,  with  an  iron  spoon.  He 
would  stop  every  now  and  then  to  listen  when  there  was 
the  least  noise  below ;  and,  when  he  had  satisfied  him- 
self, he  would  go  on,  whistling  and  stirring  again,  as 
before. 

Although  Oliver  had  roused  himself  from  sleep,  he 
was  not  thoroughly  awake.  There  is  a  drowsy  state, 
between  sleeping  and  waking,  when  you  dream  more  in 
five  minutes  with  your  eyes  half  open,  and  yourself  half 
conscious  of  everything  that  is  passing  around  you,  than 
you  would  in  five  nights  with  your  eyes  fast  closed,  and 
your  senses  wrapt  in  perfect  unconsciousness.  At  such 
times,  a  mortal  knows  just  enough  of  what  his  mind  is 
doing,  to  form  some  ghmmering  conception  of  its  mighty 
powers,  its  bounding  from  earth  and  spurning  time  and 
space,  when  freed  from  the  restraint  of  its  corporeal 
associate. 


102  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Oliver  was  precisely  in  this  condition.  He  saw  the 
Jew  with  his  half-closed  eyes  ;  heard  his  low  whistling  ; 
and  recognized  the  sound  of  the  spoon,  grating  against 
the  saucepan's  sides ;  and  yet  the  self-same  senses  were 
mentally  engaged,  at  the  same  time,  in  busy  action  with 
almost  everybody  he  had  ever  known. 

When  the  coffee  was  done,  the  Jew  drew  the  saucepan 
to  the  hob.  Standing,  then,  in  an  irresolute  attitude  for 
a  few  minutes,  as  if  he  did  not  well  know  how  to  employ 
himself,  he  turned  round  and  looked  at  Oliver,  and  called 
him  by  his  name.  He  did  not  answer,  and  was  to  all 
appearance  asleep. 

After  satisfying  himself  upon  this  head,  the  Jew 
stepped  gently  to  the  door :  which  he  fastened.  He 
then  drew  forth  :  as  it  seemed  to  Oliver,  from  some  trap 
in  the  floor :  a  small  box,  which  he  placed  carefully  on 
the  table.  His  eyes  glistened  as  he  raised  the  lid,  and 
looked  in.  Dragging  an  old  chair  to  the  table,  he  sat 
down  ;  and  took  from  it  a  magnificent  gold  watch,  spark- 
ling with  jewels. 

"  Aha  ! "  said  the  Jew,  shrugging  up  his  shoulders,  and 
distorting  every  feature  with  a  hideous  grin.  "  Clever 
dogs  !  clever  dogs  !  Stanch  to  the  last !  Never  told  the 
old  parson  where  they  were.  Never  peached  upon  old 
Fagin !  And  why  should  they  ?  It  wouldn't  have 
loosened  the  knot,  or  kept  the  drop  up  a  minute  longer. 
No,  no,  no  !     Fine  fellows  !     Fine  fellows  !  " 

"With  these,  and  other  muttered  reflections  of  the  like 
nature,  the  Jew  once  more  deposited  the  watch  in  its 
place  of  safety.  At  least  half  a  dozen  more  were  sev- 
erally drawn  forth  from  the  same  box,  and  surveyed  with 
equal  pleasure  ;  besides  rings,  brooches,  bracelets,  and 
other  articles  of  jewelry,  of  such  magnificent  materials, 


OLIVER  TWIST.  103 

and  costly  workmanship,  that  OHver  had  no  idea,  even 
of  their  names. 

Having  replaced  these  trinkets,  the  Jew  took  out 
another  :  so  small  that  it  lay  in  the  palm  of  his  hand. 
There  seemed  to  be  some  very  minute  inscription  on  it ; 
for  the  Jew  laid  it  flat  upon  the  table,  and,  shading  it 
with  his  hand,  pored  over  it  long  and  earnestly.  At 
length  he  put  it  down,  as  if  despairing  of  success ;  and, 
leaning  back  in  his  chair,  muttered, 

"  What  a  fine  thing  capital  punishment  is  !  Dead  men 
never  repent ;  dead  men  never  bring  awkward  stories  to 
light.  Ah,  it's  a  fine  thing  for  the  trade  !  Five  of  'em 
strung  up  in  a  row,  and  none  left  to  play  booty,  or  turn 
white  livered ! " 

As  the  Jew  uttered  these  words,  his  bright  dark  eyes, 
which  had  been  staring  vacantly  before  him,  fell  on 
Oliver's  face ;  the  boy's  eyes  were  fixed  on  his  in  mute 
curiosity  ;  and,  although  the  recognition  was  only  for  an 
instant  —  for  the  briefest  space  of  time  that  can  possibly 
be  conceived  —  it  was  enough  to  show  the  old  man  that 
he  had  been  observed.  He  closed  the  lid  of  the  box 
■with  a  loud  crash  ;  and,  laying  his  hand  on  a  bread  knife 
which  was  on  the  table,  started  furiously  up.  He  trem- 
bled very  much  though ;  for  even  in  his  terror,  Oliver 
could  see  that  the  knife  quivered  in  the  air. 

"  Wiiat's  that  ?  "  said  the  Jew.  "  What  do  you  watch 
me  for  ?  Why  are  you  awake  ?  Wliat  have  you  seen  ? 
Speak  out,  boy  !     Quick  —  quick  !  for  your  life  !  " 

"  I  wasn't  able  to  sleep  any  longer,  sir,"  replied  Oli- 
ver, meekly.  "  I  am  very  sorry  if  I  have  disturbed  you, 
sir." 

"  You  were  not  aw^ake  an  hour  ago  ?  "  said  the  Jew, 
scowling  fiercely  on  the  boy. 


104  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  No  —  no,  indeed,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  Are  you  sure  ?  "  cried  the  Jew  :  with  a  still  fiercer 
look  than  before  :  and  a  threatening  attitude. 

"  Upon  my  word  I  was  not,  sir,"  replied  Oliver  ear- 
nestly.    "  I  was  not,  indeed,  sir." 

"  Tush,  tush,  my  dear  ! "  said  the  Jew,  abruptly  re- 
suming his  old  manner,  and  playing  with  the  knife  a 
little,  before  he  laid  it  down  :  as  if  to  induce  the  belief 
that  he  had  caught  it  up,  in  mere  sport.  "  Of  course  I 
know  that,  my  dear.  I  only  tried  to  frighten  you.  You're 
a  brave  boy.  Ha !  ha !  you're  a  brave  boy,  Oliver ! "  The 
Jew  rubbed  his  hands  with  a  chuckle,  but  glanced  un- 
easily at  the  box,  notwithstanding. 

"  Did  you  see  any  of  these  pretty  things,  my  dear  ?  " 
said  the  Jew,  laying  his  hand  upon  it  after  a  short  pause. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Ohver. 

"  Ah  !  "  said  the  Jew,  turning  rather  pale.  "  They  — 
they're  mine,  Oliver  ;  my  little  property.  All  I  have  to 
live  upon,  in  my  old  age.  The  folks  call  me  a  miser, 
my  dear  —  only  a  miser  ;  that's  all." 

Oliver  thought  the  old  gentleman  must  be  a  decided 
miser  to  live  in  such  a  dirty  place,  with  so  many  watches ; 
but,  thinking  that  perhaps  his  fondness  for  the  Dodger 
and  the  other  boys,  cost  him  a  good  deal  of  money,  he 
only  cast  a  deferential  look  at  the  Jew,  and  asked  if  he 
might  get  up. 

"  Certainly,  my  dear  —  certainly,"  replied  the  old  gen- 
tleman. "  Stay.  There's  a  pitcher  of  water  in  the  corner 
by  the  door.  Bring  it  here ;  and  I'll  give  you  a  basin  to 
wash  in,  my  dear." 

Oliver  got  up  ;  walked  across  the  room ;  and  stooped 
for  an  instant  to  raise  the  pitcher.  When  he  turned  his 
head,  the  box  was  gone. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  105 

He  had  scarcely  washed  himself,  and  made  everything 
tidy,  by  emptying  the  basin  out  of  the  window,  agree- 
ably to  the  Jew's  directions,  when  the  Dodger  returned ; 
accompanied  by  a  very  sprightly  young  friend,  whom 
Oliver  had  seen  smoking  on  the  previous  night,  and  who 
was  now  formally  introduced  to  him  as  Charley  Bates. 
The  four  sat  down,  to  breakfast  on  the  coffee,  and  some 
hot  rolls  and  ham,  which  the  Dodger  had  brought  home 
in  the  crown  of  his  hat. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Jew,  glancing  slyly  at  Oliver,  and 
addressing  himself  to  the  Dodger,  "  I  hope  you've  been 
at  work  this  morning,  my  dears  ?  " 

"  Hard,"  replied  the  Dodger. 

"  As  Nails,"  added  Charley  Bates. 

"  Good  boys,  good  boys  !  "  said  the  Jew.  "  What  have 
you  got.  Dodger  ?  " 

"  A  couple  of  pocket-books,"  replied  that  young  gen- 
tleman. 

"  Lined  ?  "  inquired  the  Jew,  with  eagerness. 

"  Pretty  well,"  replied  the  Dodger,  producing  two 
pocket-books :  one  green,  and  the  other  red. 

"  Not  so  heavy  as  they  might  be,"  said  the  Jew,  after 
looking  at  the  insides  carefully ;  "  but  very  neat  and 
nicely  made.     Ingenious  workman,  a'n't  he,  Oliver?" 

"  Very,  indeed,  sir,"  said  Oliver.  At  which  Mr. 
Charles  Bates  laughed  uproariously ;  very  much  to  the 
amazement  of  Oliver,  who  saw  nothing  to  laugh  at,  in 
anything  that  had  passed. 

"  And  what  have  you  got,  my  dear  ?  "  said  Fagin  to 
Charley  Bates. 

"  Wipes,"  replied  Master  Bates ;  at  the  same  time 
producing  four  pocket-handkerchiefs. 

"  Well,"  said  the  Jew,  inspecting  them  closely ;  they're 


106  OLIVER  TWIST. 

very  good  ones  —  very.  You  haven't  marked  tliem  well, 
though,  Charley ;  so  the  marks  shall  be  picked  out  with 
a  needle,  and  we'll  teach  Oliver  how  to  do  it.  Shall  us, 
Oliver,  eh  ?     Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  " 

"  If  you  please,  sir,"  said  Oliver. 

"  You'd  like  to  be  able  to  make  pocket-handkerchiefs 
as  easy  as  Charley  Bates,  wouldn't  you,  my  dear  ?  "  said 
the  Jew. 

"  Very  much  indeed,  if  you'll  teach  me,  sir,"  replied 
Oliver. 

Master  Bates  saw  something  so  exquisitely  ludicrous 
in  this  reply,  that  he  burst  into  another  laugh ;  which 
laugh,  meeting  the  coffee  he  was  drinking,  and  carrying 
it  down  some  wrong  channel,  very  nearly  terminated  in 
his  premature  suffocation. 

"  He  is  so  jolly  green  ! "  said  Charley  when  he  re- 
covered :  as  an  apology  to  the  company  for  his  unpolite 
behavior. 

The  Dodger  said  nothing,  but  he  smoothed  Oliver's 
hair  over  his  eyes,  and  said  he'd  know  better  by-and-by  ; 
upon  which  the  old  gentleman,  observing  Oliver's  color 
mounting,  changed  the  subject  by  asking  whether  there 
had  been  much  of  a  crowd  at  the  execution  that  morn- 
ing. This  made  him  wonder  more  and  more  ;  for  it 
was  plain  from  the  replies  of  the  two  boys  that  they 
had  both  been  there  ;  and  Oliver  naturally  wondered 
how  they  could  possibly  have  found  time  to  be  so  very 
industrious. 

When  the  breakfast  was  cleared  away,  the  merry  old 
gentleman  and  the  two  boys  played  at  a  very  curious 
and  uncommon  game,  which  was  performed  in  this  way. 
The  merry  old  gentleman :  placing  a  snuff-box  in  one 
pocket  of  his  trousers,  a  note-case  in  the  other,  and  a 


OLIVER  TWIST.  107 

watch  in  his  waistcoat-pocket :  with  a  guard-chain  round 
his  neck  :  and  sticking  a  mock  diamond  pin  in  his  shirt : 
buttoned  his  coat  tight  round  him,  and  putting  his  spec- 
tacle-case and  handkerchief  in  his  pockets,  trotted  up 
and  down  the  room  with  a  stick,  in  imitation  of  the 
manner  in  which  old  gentlemen  walk  about  the  streets 
any  hour  in  the  day.  Sometimes  he  stopped  at  the 
fire-place,  and  sometimes  at  the  door,  making  belief 
that  he  was  staring  with  all  his  might  into  shop-win- 
dows. At  such  times,  he  would  look  constantly  round 
him,  for  fear  of  thieves,  and  keep  slapping  all  his  pock- 
ets in  turn,  to  see  that  he  hadn't  lost  anything,  in  such 
a  very  funny  and  natural  manner,  that  Oliver  laughed 
till  the  tears  ran  down  his  face.  All  this  time,  the  two 
boys  followed  him  closely  about ;  getting  out  of  his 
sight,  so  nimbly,  every  time  he  turned  round,  that  it 
was  impossible  to  follow  their  motions.  At  last,  the 
Dodger  trod  upon  his  toes,  or  ran  upon  his  boot  acci- 
dentally, while  Charley  Bates  stumbled  up  against 
him  behind  ;  and  in  that  one  moment  they  took  from 
him,  with  the  most  extraordinary  rapidity,  snuff-box, 
note-case,  watch-guard,  chain,  shirt-pin,  pocket-handker- 
chief—  even  the  spectacle-case.  If  the  old  gentleman 
felt  a  hand  in  any  one  of  his  pockets,  he  cried  out  where 
it  was  ;  and  then  the  game  began  all  over  again. 

"When  this  game  had  been  played  a  great  many  times, 
a  couple  of  young  ladles  called  to  see  the  young  gentle- 
men ;  one  of  whom  was  named  Bet,  and  the  other 
Nancy.  They  wore  a  good  deal  of  hair,  not  very  neatly 
turned  up  behind,  and  were  rather  untidy  about  the 
shoes  and  stockings.  They  were  not  exactly  pretty, 
perhaps  ;  but  they  had  a  great  deal  of  color  in  their 
faces,  and  looked  quite  stout  and   hearty.     Being   re- 


108  OLIVER  TWIST. 

markably  free  and  agreeable  in  their  manners,  Oliver 
thought  them  very  nice  girls  indeed.  As  there  is  no 
doubt  they  were. 

These  visitors  stopped  a  long  time.  Spirits  were  pro- 
duced, in  consequence  of  one  of  the  young  ladies  com- 
plaining of  a  coldness  in  her  inside ;  and  the  conversation 
took  a  very  convivial  and  improving  turn.  At  length, 
Charley  Bates  expressed  his  opinion  that  it  was  time 
to  pad  the  hoof  This,  it  occurred  to  Oliver,  must  be 
French  for  going  out ;  for,  directly  afterwards,  the 
Dodger,  and  Charley,  and  the  two  young  ladies,  went 
away  together,  having  been  kindly  furnished  by  the 
amiable  old  Jew  with  money  to  spend. 

"  There,  my  dear,"  said  Fagin.  "  That's  a  pleasant 
life,  isn't  it?     They  have  gone  out  for  the  day." 

"  Have  they  done  work,  sir  ?  "  inquired  Oliver. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  Jew ;  "  that  is,  unless  they  should 
unexpectedly  come  across  any,  when  they  are  out ;  and 
they  won't  neglect  it,  if  they  do,  my  dear :  depend  upon 
it." 

"  Make  'em  your  models,  my  dear.  Make  'em  your 
models,"  said  the  Jew,  tapping  the  fire-shovel  on  the 
hearth  to  add  force  to  his  words ;  "  do  everything  they 
bid  you,  and  take  their  advice  in  all  matters  —  espe- 
cially the  Dodger's,  my  dear.  He'll  be  a  great  man 
himself,  and  will  make  you  one  too,  if  you  take  pattern 
by  him  —  Is  my  handkerchief  hanging  out  of  my  pocket, 
my  dear  ?  "  said  the  Jew,  stopping  short. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Ohver. 

"  See  if  you  can  take  it  out,  without  my  feeling 
it:  as  you  saw  them  do,  when  we  were  at  play  this 
morning." 

Oliver  held  up  the  bottom  of  the  pocket  with   one 


OLIVER  TWIST.  109 

hand,  as  he  had  seen  the  Dodger  hold  it,  and  drew  the 
handkerchief  hghtly  out  of  it  with  the  other. 

"  Is  it  gone  ?  "  cried  the  Jew. 

"  Here  it  is,  sir,"  said  Ohver,  showing  it  in  his  hand. 

"  You're  a  clever  boy,  my  dear,"  said  the  playful  old 
gentleman,  patting  Oliver  on  the  head  approvingly.  "  I 
never  saw  a  sharper  lad.  Here's  a  shilling  for  you.  If 
you  go  on,  in  this  way,  you'll  be  the  greatest  man  of  the 
time.  And  now  come  here,  and  I'll  show  you  how  to 
take  the  marks  out  of  the  handkerchiefs." 

OHver  wondered  what  picking  the  old  gentleman's 
pocket  in  play,  had  to  do  with  his  chances  of  being  a 
great  man.  But,  thinking  that  the  Jew,  being  so  much 
his  senior,  must  know  best,  he  followed  him  quietly  to 
the  table,  and  was  soon  deeply  involved  in  his  new 
study. 


110  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER    X. 

OLIVER  BECOMES  BETTER  ACQUAINTED  WITH  THE 
CHARACTERS  OF  HIS  NEW  ASSOCIATES  ;  AND  PUR- 
CHASES EXPERIENCE  AT  A  HIGH  PRICE.  BEING  A 
SHORT,  BUT  VERY  IMPORTANT  CHAPTER,  IN  THIS 
HISTORY. 

For  many  days,  Oliver  remained  in  the  Jew's  room, 
picking  the  marks  out  of  the  pocket-handkerchiefs,  (of 
which  a  great  number  were  brought  home,)  and  some- 
times taking  part  in  the  game  already  described  :  which 
the  two  boys  and  the  Jew  played,  regularly,  every  morn- 
ing. At  length,  he  began  to  languish  for  fresh  air  ;  and 
took  many  occasions  of  earnestly  entreating  the  old  gen- 
tleman to  allow  him  to  go  out  to  work,  with  his  two  com- 
panions. 

Oliver  was  rendered  the  more  anxious  to  be  actively 
employed,  by  what  he  had  seen  of  the  stern  morality  of 
the  old  gentleman's  character.  Whenever  the  Dodger 
or  Charley  Bates  came  home  at  night,  empty-handed,  he 
would  expatiate  with  great  vehemence  on  the  misery  of 
idle  and  lazy  habits  ;  and  would  enforce  upon  them  the 
necessity  of  an  active  life,  by  sending  them  supperless 
to  bed.  On  one  occasion,  indeed,  he  even  went  so  far 
as  to  knock  them  both  down  a  flight  of  stairs  ;  but  this 
was  carrying  out  his  virtuous  precepts  to  an  unusual 
extent. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  Ill 

At  length,  one  morning,  Oliver  obtained  the  permis- 
sion he  had  so  eagerly  sought.  There  had  been  no  hand- 
kerchiefs to  work  upon,  for  two  or  three  days,  and  the 
dinners  had  been  rather  meagre.  Perhaps  these  were 
reasons  for  the  old  gentleman's  giving  his  assent ;  but, 
whether  they  were  or  no,  he  told  Oliver  he  might  go ; 
and  placed  him  under  the  joint  guardianship  of  Charley 
Bates,  and  his  friend  the  Dodger. 

The  three  boys  sallied  out ;  the  Dodger  with  his  coat- 
sleeves  tucked  up,  and  his  hat  cocked,  as  usual ;  Master 
Bates  sauntering  along  with  his  hands  in  his  pockets  ; 
and  Oliver  between  them,  wondering  where  they  were 
going,  and  what  branch  of  manufacture  he  would  be  in- 
structed in,  first. 

The  pace  at  which  they  went,  was  such  a  very  lazy, 
ill-looking  saunter,  that  Oliver  soon  began  to  think  his 
comj^anions  were  going  to  deceive  the  old  gentleman,  by 
not  going  to  work  at  all.  The  Dodger  had  a  vicious 
propensity,  too,  of  pulling  the  caps  from  the  heads  of 
small  boys  and  tossing  them  down  areas ;  while  Charley 
Bates  exhibited  some  very  loose  notions  concerning  the 
rights  of  property,  by  pilfering  divers  apples  and  onions 
from  the  stalls  at  the  kennel  sides,  and  thrusting  them 
into  pockets  which  were  so  surprisingly  capacious,  that 
they  seemed  to  undermine  his  whole  suit  of  clothes  in 
every  direction.  These  things  looked  so  bad,  that  Oliver 
was  on  the  point  of  declaring  his  intention  of  seeking  his 
way  back,  in  the  best  way  he  could ;  when  his  thoughts 
were  suddenly  directed  into  another  channel,  by  a  very 
mysterious  change  of  behavior  on  the  part  of  the 
Dodger. 

They  were  just  emerging  from  a  narrow  court  not  far 
from  the  open  square  in  Clerkenwell,  which  is  yet  called, 


112  OLIVER  TWIST. 

by  some  strange  perversion  of  terms,  "  The  Green : " 
when  the  Dodger  made  a  sudden  stop ;  and,  laying  his 
finger  on  his  lip,  drew  his  companions  back  again,  with 
the  greatest  caution  and  circumspection. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  demanded  Oliver. 

"  Hush  ! "  replied  the  Dodger.  "  Do  you  see  that  old 
cove  at  the  book-stall  ?  " 

"  The  old  gentleman  over  the  way  ? "  said  Oliver. 
"  Yes,  I  see  him." 

"  He'll  do,"  said  the  Dodger. 

"  A  prime  plant,"  observed  Master  Charley  Bates. 

Oliver  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  with  the  greatest 
surprise  ;  but  he  was  not  permitted  to  make  any  in- 
quiries ;  for  the  two  boys  walked  stealthily  across  the 
road,  and  slunk  close  behind  the  old  gentleman  towards 
whom  his  attention  had  been  directed.  Oliver  walked 
a  few  paces  after  them ;  and,  not  knowing  whether  to 
advance  or  retire,  stood  looking  on  in  silent  amazement. 

The  old  gentleman  was  a  very  respectable-looking 
personage,  with  a  powdered  head,  and  gold  spectacles. 
He  was  dressed  in  a  bottle-green  coat  with  a  black  velvet 
collar ;  wore  white  trousers  ;  and  carried  a  smart  bamboo 
cane  under  his  arm.  He  had  taken  up  a  book  from  the 
stall ;  and  there  he  stood :  reading  away,  as  hard  as  if  he 
were  in  his  elbow-chair,  in  his  own  study.  It  is  very 
possible  that  he  fancied  himself  there,  indeed ;  for  it  was 
plain,  from  his  utter  abstraction,  that  he  saw  not  the 
book-stall,  nor  the  street,  nor  the  boys,  nor,  in  short,  any- 
thing but  the  book  itself:  which  he  was  reading  straight 
through :  turning  over  the  leaf  when  he  got  to  the  bot- 
tom of  a  page,  beginning  at  the  top  line  of  the  next  one, 
and  going  regularly  on,  with  the  greatest  interest  and 
eagerness. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  113 

What  was  Oliver's  horror  and  alarm  as  he  stood  a  few 
paces  off,  looking  on  with  his  eyelids  as  wide  open  as  they 
would  possibly  go,  to  see  the  Dodger  plunge  his  hand 
into  the  old  gentleman's  pocket,  and  di'aw  from  thence  a 
handkerchief!  To  see  him  hand  the  same  to  Charley 
Bates ;  and  finally  to  behold  them,  both,  running  away 
round  the  corner  at  full  speed! 

In  an  instant  the  whole  mystery  of  the  handkerchiefs, 
and  the  watches,  and  the  jewels,  and  the  Jew,  rushed 
upon  the  boy's  mind.  He  stood,  for  a  moment,  with  the 
blood  so  tingling  through  all  his  veins  from  terror,  that 
he  felt  as  if  he  were  in  a  burning  fire  ;  then,  confused 
and  frightened,  he  took  to  his  heels ;  and,  not  knowing 
what  he  did,  made  off  as  fast  as  he  could  lay  his  feet  to 
the  ground. 

This  was  all  done  in  a  minute's  space.  In  the  very 
instant  when  Oliver  began  to  run,  the  old  gentleman, 
putting  his  hand  to  his  pocket,  and  missing  his  handker- 
chief, turned  sharp  round.  Seeing  the  boy  scudding 
away  at  such  a  rapid  pace,  he  very  naturally  concluded 
him  to  be  the  depredator;  and,  shouting  "  Stop  thief!" 
with  all  his  might,  made  off  after  him,  book  in  hand. 

But  the  old  gentleman  was  not  the  only  person  who 
raised  the  hue-and-cry.  The  Dodger  and  Master  Bates, 
unwilling  to  attract  public  attention  by  running  down  the 
open  street,  had  merely  retired  into  the  very  first  door- 
way round  the  corner.  They  no  sooner  heard  the  cry, 
and  saw  Oliver  running,  than,  guessing  exactly  how  the 
matter  stood,  they  issued  forth  with  great  promptitude ; 
and,  shouting  "Stop  thief!"  too,  joined  in  the  pursuit 
like  good  citizens. 

Although  Oliver  had  been  brought  up  by  philosophers, 
he  was  not  theoretically  acquainted  with  the   beautiful 


114  OLIVER  TWIST. 

axiom  that  self-preservation  is  the  first  law  of  nature. 
If  he  had  been,  perhaps  he  would  have  been  prepared 
for  this.  Not  being  prepared,  however,  it  alarmed  him 
the  more  ;  so  away  he  went  like  the  wind,  with  the  old 
gentleman  and  the  two  boys  roaring  and  shouting  be- 
hind him. 

"Stop  thief!  Stop  thief!"  There  is  a  magic  in  the 
sound.  The  tradesman  leaves  his  counter,  and  the  car- 
man his  wagon  ;  the  butcher  throws  down  his  tray  ;  the 
baker  his  basket ;  the  milkman  his  pail ;  the  errand-boy 
his  parcels  ;  the  school-boy  his  marbles ;  the  pavior  his 
pickaxe ;  the  child  his  battledore.  Away  they  run, 
pell-mell,  helter-skelter,  slap-dash :  tearing,  yelling,  and 
screaming :  knocking  down  the  passengers  as  they  turn 
the  corners  :  rousing  up  the  dogs,  and  astonishing  the 
fowls  :  and  streets,  squares,  and  courts,  reecho  with  the 
sound. 

"Stop  thief!  Stop  thief!"  The  cry  is  taken  up  by 
a  hundred  voices,  and  the  crowd  accumulate  at  every 
turning.  Away  they  fly  :  splashing  through  the  mud, 
and  rattling  along  the  pavements  :  up  go  the  windows, 
out  run  the  people,  onward  bear  the  mob,  a  whole  audi- 
ence desert  Punch  in  the  very  thickest  of  the  plot,  and, 
joining  the  rushing  throng,  swell  the  shout,  and  lend 
fresh  vigor  to  the  cry,  "  Stop  thief !  Stop  thief !  " 

"  Stop  thief !  Stop  thief !  "  There  is  a  passion  for 
hunting  something  deeply  implanted  in  the  human  breast. 
One  wretched,  breathless  child,  panting  with  exhaustion ; 
terror  in  his  looks ;  agony  in  his  eye ;  large  drops  of  per- 
spiration streaming  down  his  face  ;  strains  every  nerve 
to  make  head  upon  his  pursuers ;  and  as  they  follow 
on  his  track,  and  gain  upon  him  every  instant,  they  hail 
his   decreasing   strength  with    still   louder    shouts,   and 


OLIVER  TWIST.  115 

whoop  and  scream  with  joj.  "  Stop  thief !  "  Ay,  stop 
him  for  God's  sake,  were  it  only  in  mercy  ! 

Stopped  at  last !  A  clever  blow  !  He  is  down  upon 
the  pavement ;  and  the  crowd  eagerly  gather  round  him : 
each  new-comer,  jostling  and  struggling  with  the  others 
to  catch  a  glimpse.  "  Stand  aside  !  "  "  Give  him  a 
little  air!"  "Nonsense!  he  don't  deserve  it."  "Where's 
the  gentleman?  "  "  Here  he  is,  coming  down  the  street." 
"  Make  room  there  for  the  gentleman  ! "  "  Is  this  the 
boy,  sir!"     "Yes." 

Oliver  lay,  covered  with  mud  and  dust,  and  bleeding 
from  the  mouth,  looking  wildly  round  upon  the  heap  of 
faces  that  surrounded  him,  when  the  old  gentleman  was 
officiously  dragged  and  pushed  into  the  circle  by  the 
foremost  of  the  pursuers. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  gentleman,  "  I  am  afraid  it  is  the 
boy." 

"  Afraid  !  "  murmured  the  crowd.  "  That's  a  good 
'un." 

"  Poor  fellow  ! "  said  the  gentleman,  "  he  has  hurt  him- 
self." 

"  /  did  that,  sir,"  said  a  great  lubberly  fellow,  stepping 
forward ;  "  and  preciously  I  cut  my  knuckle  ag'in'  his 
mouth.     /  stopped  him,  sir." 

The  fellow  touched  his  hat  with  a  grin,  expecting 
something  for  his  pains  ;  but,  the  old  gentleman,  eyeing 
him  with  an  expression  of  dislike,  looked  anxiously 
round,  as  if  he  contemplated  running  away  himself: 
which  it  is  very  possible  he  might  have  attempted  to  do, 
and  thus  afforded  another  chase,  had  not  a  police-officer 
(who  is  generally  the  last  person  to  arrive  in  such  cases) 
at  that  moment  made  his  way  through  the  crowd,  and 
seized  Oliver  by  the  collar. 


116  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Come,  get  up,"  said  the  man,  roughly. 

"  It  wasn't  me  indeed,  sir.  Indeed,  indeed,  it  was  two 
other  boys,"  said  Ohver,  clasping  his  hands  passionately, 
and  looking  round.     "  They  are  here  somewhere." 

"  Oh  no,  they  a'n't,"  said  the  officer.  He  meant  this 
to  be  ironical,  but  it  was  true  besides ;  for  the  Dodger 
and  Charley  Bates  had  filed  off  down  the  first  conven- 
ient court  they  came  to.     "  Come,  get  up  ! " 

"  Don't  hurt  him,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  compassion- 
ately. 

"  Oh  no,  I  won't  hurt  him,"  replied  the  officer,  tear- 
ing his  jacket  half  off  bis  back,  in  proof  thereof. 
"  Come,  I  know  you ;  it  won't  do.  Will  you  stand 
upon  your  legs,  you  young  devil  ?  " 

Oliver,  who  could  hardly  stand,  made  a  shift  to  raise 
himself  on  his  feet,  and  was  at  once  lugged  along  the 
street  by  the  jacket-collar,  at  a  rapid  pace.  The  gentle- 
man walked  on  with  them  by  the  officer's  side  ;  and  as 
many  of  the  crowd  as  could  achieve  the  feat,  got  a 
little  ahead,  and  stared  back  at  Oliver  from  time  to  time. 
The  boys  shouted  in  triumph ;  and  on  they  went. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  117 


CHAPTER  XI. 

TREATS  OF  ME.  FAXG  THE  POLICE  MAGISTRATE;  AND 
FURNISHES  A  SLIGHT  SPECIMEN  OF  HIS  MODE  OF 
ADMINISTERING    JUSTICE. 

The  offence  had  been  committed  within  the  district, 
and  indeed  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of,  a  very 
notorious  metropolitan  police-office.  The  crowd  had  only 
the  satisfaction  of  accompanying  Oliver  through  two  or 
three  streets,  and  down  a  place  called  Mutton-hill,  when 
he  was  led  beneath  a  low  archway,  and  up  a  dirty  court, 
into  this  dispensary  of  summary  justice,  by  the  back 
way.  It  was  a  small  paved  yard  into  which  they  turned: 
and  here  they  encountered  a  stout  man,  with  a  bunch 
of  whiskers  on  his  face,  and  a  bunch  of  keys  in  his 
hand. 

"  What's  the  matter  now  ?  "  said  the  man  carelessly. 

"  A  young  fogle-hunter,"  replied  the  man  who  had 
Oliver  in  charge. 

"  Are  you  the  party  that's  been  robbed,  sir  ?  "  inquired 
the  man  with  the  keys. 

"  Yes,  I  am,"  replied  the  old  gentleman  ;  "  but  I  am 
not  sure  that  this  boy  actually  took  the  handkerchief.  I 
—  I  would  rather  not  press  the  case." 

"  Must  go  before  the  magistrate  now,  sir,"  replied  the 
man.  "  His  worship  wiU  be  disengaged  in  half  a  min- 
ute.    Now,  young  gallows  ! " 


118  OLIVER  TWIST. 

This  was  an  invitation  for  Oliver  to  enter  through  a 
door  which  he  unlocked  as  he  spoke :  and  which  led  into 
a  stone  cell.  Here  he  was  searched  ;  and,  nothing  being 
found  upon  him,  locked  up. 

This  cell  was  in  shape  and  size,  something  like  an  area 
cellar,  only  not  so  light.  It  was  most  intolerably  dirty  ; 
for  it  was  Monday  morning ;  and  it  had  been  tenanted 
by  six  drunken  people,  who  had  been  locked  up,  else- 
where, since  Saturday  night.  But  this  is  httle.  In  our 
station-houses,  men  and  women  are  every  night  confined 
on  the  most  trivial  charges  —  the  word  is  worth  noting  — 
in  dungeons,  compared  with  which,  those  in  Newgate, 
occupied  by  the  most  atrocious  felons,  tried,  found  guilty, 
and  under  sentence  of  death,  are  palaces.  Let  any  one 
who  doubts  this,  compare  the  two. 

The  old  gentleman  looked  almost  as  rueful  as  Oliver 
when  the  key  grated  in  the  lock.  He  turned  with  a  sigh 
to  the  book,  which  had  been  the  innocent  cause  of  all  this 
disturbance. 

"  There  is  something  in  that  boy's  face,"  said  the  old 
gentleman  to  himself  as  he  walked  slowly  away,  tapping 
his  chin  with  the  cover  of  the  book,  in  a  thoughtful  man- 
ner ;  "  something  that  touches  and  interests  me.  Can 
he  be  innocent  ?  He  looked  like.  —  By-the-by,"  ex- 
claimed the  old  gentleman,  halting  very  abruptly  and 
staring  up  into  the  sky,  "  Bless  my  soul !  —  where  have 
I  seen  something  like  that  look  before  ?  " 

After  musing  for  some  minutes,  the  old  gentleman 
walked,  with  the  same  meditative  face,  into  a  back  ante- 
room opening  from  the  yard  ;  and  there,  retiring  into  a 
corner,  called  up  before  his  mind's  eye  a  vast  amphitheatre 
of  faces  over  which  a  dusky  curtain  had  hung  for  many 
years.  "  No,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  shaking  his  head; 
"  it  must  be  imagination." 


OLIVER  TWIST.  119 

He  wandered  over  them  again.  He  had  called  them 
into  view ;  and  it  was  not  easy  to  replace  the  shroud  that 
had  so  long  concealed  them.  There  were  the  faces  of 
friends,  and  foes,  and  of  many  that  had  been  almost  stran- 
gers, peering  intrusively  from  the  crowd  ;  there  were 
the  faces  of  young  and  blooming  girls  that  were  now  old 
women  ;  there  were  faces  that  the  grave  had  changed 
and  closed  upon,  but  which  the  mind,  superior  to  its 
power,  still  dressed  in  their  old  freshness  and  beauty, 
calling  back  the  lustre  of  the  eyes,  the  brightness  of  the 
smile,  the  beaming  of  the  soul  through  its  mask  of  clay, 
and  whispering  of  beauty  beyond  the  tomb,  changed  but 
to  be  heightened,  and  taken  from  earth  only  to  be  set  up 
as  a  light,  to  shed  a  soft  and  gentle  glow  upon  the  path 
to  Heaven. 

But  the  old  gentleman  could  recall  no  one  countenance 
of  which  Oliver's  features  bore  a  trace.  So,  he  heaved 
a  sigh  over  the  recollections  he  had  awakened ;  and  being, 
happily  for  himself,  an  absent  old  gentleman,  buried  them 
again  in  the  pages  of  the  musty  book. 

He  was  roused  by  a  touch  on  the  shoulder,  and  a  re- 
quest from  the  man  with  the  keys  to  follow  him  into  the 
office.  He  closed  his  book  hastily ;  and  was  at  once 
ushered  into  the  imposing  presence  of  the  renowned  Mr. 
Fang. 

The  office  was  a  front  parlor,  with  a  panelled  wall. 
Mr.  Fang  sat  behind  a  bar,  at  the  upper  end ;  and  on 
one  side  the  door  was  a  sort  of  wooden  pen  in  which 
poor  little  Oliver  was  already  deposited  ;  trembling  very 
much  at  the  awfulness  of  the  scene. 

Mr.  Fang  was  a  lean,  long-backed,  stiff-necked,  mid- 
dle-sized man,  with  no  great  quantity  of  hair,  and  what 
he  had,  orrowinor  on  the  back  and  sides  of  his  head.     His 


120  OLIVER  TWIST. 

face  was  stern,  and  much  flushed.  If  he  were  really  not 
in  the  habit  of  drinking  rather  more  than  was  exactly 
good  for  him,  he  might  have  brought  an  action  against 
his  countenance  for  libel,  and  have  recovered  heavy 
damages. 

The  old  gentleman  bowed  respectfully ;  and  advancing 
to  the  magistrate's  desk,  said,  suiting  the  action  to  the 
word,  "That  is  my  name  and  address,  sir."  He  then 
withdrew  a  pace  or  two ;  and,  with  another  polite  and 
gentlemanly  inclination  of  the  head,  awaited  to  be  ques- 
tioned. 

Now,  it  so  happened  that  Mr.  Fang  was  at  that  mo- 
ment perusing  a  leading  article  in  a  newspaper  of  the 
morning,  adverting  to  some  recent  decision  of  his,  and 
commending  him,  for  the  three  hundred  and  fiftieth  time, 
to  the  special  and  particular  notice  of  the  Secretary  of 
State  for  the  Home  Department.  He  was  out  of  tem- 
per ;  and  he  looked  up  with  an  angry  scowl. 

"  Who  are  you  ?  "  said  Mr.  Fang. 

The  old  gentleman  pointed,  with  some  surprise,  to  his 
card. 

"  Ofiicer  ! "  said  Mr.  Fang,  tossing  the  card  contempt- 
uously away  with  the  newspaper,  "  who  is  this  fellow  ?  " 

"  My  name,  sir,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  speaking  lihe 
a  gentleman,  "  my  name,  sir,  is  Brownlow.  Permit  me 
to  inquire  the  name  of  the  magistrate  who  offers  a  gra- 
tuitous and  unprovoked  insult  to  a  respectable  person, 
under  the  protection  of  the  bench."  Saying  this,  Mr. 
Brownlow  looked  round  the  office  as  if  in  search  of 
some  person  who  would  afford  him  the  required  infor- 
mation. 

"  Officer  ! "  said  Mr.  Fang,  throwing  the  paper  on  one 
side,  "  what's  this  fellow  charged  with  ?  " 


OLIVER  TWIST.  121 

"  He's  not  charged  at  all,  your  worship,"  replied  the 
officer.     "  He  appears  against  the  boy,  your  worship." 

His  worship  knew  this  perfectly  well;  but  it  was  a 
good  annoyance,  and  a  safe  one. 

"  Appears  against  the  boy,  does  he  ?  "  said  Fang,  sur- 
veying Mr.  Brownlow  contemptuously  from  head  to  foot. 
«  Swear  him  !  " 

"  Before  I  am  sworn,  I  must  beg  to  say  one  word," 
said  Mr.  Brownlow  :  "  and  that  is,  that  I  really  never, 
without  actual  experience,  could  have  believed  "  — 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  sir ! "  said  Mr.  Fang,  peremptorily. 

"  I  will  not,  sir ! "  replied  the  old  gentleman. 

"  Hold  your  tongue  this  instant,  or  I'll  have  you  turned 
out  of  the  office  ! "  said  Mr.  Fang.  "  You're  an  insolent, 
impertinent  fellow.    How  dare  you  bully  a  magistrate  ?  " 

"  What ! "  exclaimed  the  old  gentlemen,  reddening. 

"  Swear  this  person  ! "  said  Fang  to  the  clerk.  "  I'll 
not  hear  another  word.     Swear  him." 

Mr.  Brownlow's  indignation  was  greatly  roused ;  but, 
reflecting  perhaps,  that  he  might  only  injure  the  boy  by 
giving  vent  to  it,  he  suppressed  his  feelings,  and  submit- 
ted to  be  sworn  at  once. 

"  Now,"  said  Fang,  "  what's  the  charge  against  this 
boy  ?     What  have  you  got  to  say,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  was  standing  at  a  book-stall  "  —  Mr.  Brownlow 
began. 

'*  Hold  your  tongue,  sir  !  "  said  Mr.  Fang.  "  Police- 
man !  Where's  the  policeman  ?  Here,  swear  this  police- 
man.    Now,  policeman,  what  is  this  ?  " 

The  policeman,  with  becoming  humility,  related  how 
he  had  taken  the  charge  ;  how  he  had  searched  Oliver, 
and  found  nothing  on  his  person  ;  and  how  that  was  all 
he  knew  about  it. 


122  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Are  there  any  witnesses  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Fang. 

"  None,  your  worship,"  replied  the  policeman. 

Mr.  Fang  sat  silent  for  some  minutes,  and  then,  turn- 
ing round  to  the  prosecutor,  said  in  a  towering  passion, 

"  Do  you  mean  to  state  what  your  complaint  against 
this  boy  is,  man,  or  do  you  not?  You  have  been  sworn. 
Now,  if  you  stand  there,  refusing  to  give  evidence,  I'll 
punish  you  for  disrespect  to  the  bench  ;  I  will,  by  —  " 

By  what,  or  by  whom,  nobody  knows  ;  for  the  clerk 
and  jailer  coughed  very  loud,  just  at  the  right  moment ; 
and  the  former  dropped  a  heavy  book  upon  the  floor : 
thus  preventing  the  word  from  being  heard  —  acciden- 
tally, of  course. 

With  many  interruptions,  and  repeated  insults,  Mr. 
Brownlow  contrived  to  state  his  case  ;  observing  that,  in 
the  surprise  of  the  moment,  he  had  run  after  the  boy 
because  he  saw  him  running  away ;  and  expressing  his 
hope  that,  if  the  magistrate  should  believe  him,  although 
not  actually  the  thief,  to  be  connected  with  thieves,  he 
would  deal  as  leniently  with  him  as  justice  would  allow. 

"  He  has  been  hurt  already,"  said  the  old  gentleman 
in  conclusion.  "  And  I  fear,"  he  added,  with  great  en- 
ergy, looking  towards  the  bar,  "  I  really  fear  that  he  is 
ill." 

"  Oh  !  yes  ;  I  dare  say ! "  said  Mr.  Fang,  with  a  sneer. 
"  Come ;  none  of  your  tricks  here,  you  young  vagabond  ; 
they  won't  do.     What's  your  name  ?  " 

Oliver  tried  to  reply,  but  his  tongue  failed  him.  He 
was  deadly  pale  ;  and  the  whole  place  seemed  turning 
round  and  round. 

"  What's  your  name,  you  hardened  scoundrel  ? "  de- 
manded Mr.  Fang.     "  Officer,  what's  his  name  ?  " 
This  was  addressed  to  a  bluff  old  fellow,  in  a  striped 


OLIVER  TWIST.  123 

waistcoat,  who  was  standing  bj  the  bar.  He  bent  over 
Oliver,  and  repeated  the  inquiry  ;  but  finding  him  really 
incapable  of  understanding  the  question  ;  and  knowing 
that  his  not  replying  would  only  infuriate  the  magistrate 
the  more,  and  add  to  the  severity  of  his  sentence,  he 
hazarded  a  guess. 

"  He  says  his  name's  Tom  White,  your  worship,"  said 
this  kind-hearted  thief-taker. 

"  Oh,  he  won't  speak  out,  won't  he  ? "  said  Fang. 
"  Very  well,  very  well.     Where  does  he  live  ?  " 

"  Where  he  can,  your  worship,"  replied  the  ofiicer : 
again  pretending  to  receive  Oliver's  answer. 

"  Has  he  any  parents  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Fang. 

"  He  says  they  died  in  his  infancy,  your  worship,"  re- 
plied the  officer  :  hazarding  the  usual  reply. 

At  this  point  of  the  inquiry,  Oliver  raised  his  head ; 
and,  looking  round  with  imploring  eyes,  murmured  a 
feeble  prayer  for  a  draught  of  water. 

"  Stuff  and  nonsense  !  "  said  Mr.  Fang  :  "  don't  try  to 
make  a  fool  of  me." 

"  I  think  he  really  is  ill,  your  worship,"  remonstrated 
the  officer. 

"  I  know  better,"  said  Mr.  Fang. 

"  Take  care  of  him,  officer,"  said  the  old  gentleman, 
raising  his  hands  instinctively  ;  "  he'll  fall  down." 

"  Stand  away,  officer,"  cried  Fang ;  "  let  him,  if  he 
likes." 

Oliver  availed  himself  of  the  kind  permission,  and 
fell  to  the  floor  in  a  fainting  fit.  The  men  in  the  ofiice 
looked  at  each  other,  but  no  one  dared  to  stir. 

"I  knew  he  was  shamming,"  said  Fang,  as  if  this 
were  incontestable  proof  of  the  fact.  "  Let  him  lie 
there ;  he'll  soon  be  tired  of  that." 


124  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  How  do  you  propose  to  deal  with  the  case,  sir  ?  "  in- 
quired the  clerk  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Summarily,"  replied  Mr.  Fang.  "  He  stands  com- 
mitted for  three  months  —  hard  labor  of  course.  Clear 
the  office." 

The  door  was  opened  for  this  purpose  ;  and  a  couple 
of  men  were  preparing  to  carry  the  insensible  boy  to  his 
cell ;  when  an  elderly  man  of  decent  but  poor  appear- 
ance, clad  in  an  old  suit  of  black,  rushed  hastily  into  the 
office,  and  advanced  towards  the  bench. 

"  Stop,  stop  !  Don't  take  him  away  !  For  Heaven's 
sake  stop  a  moment ! "  cried  the  new-comer,  breathless 
with  haste. 

Although  the  presiding  Genii  in  such  an  office  as  this, 
exercise  a  summary  and  arbitrary  power  over  the  hber- 
ties,  the  good  name,  the  character,  almost  the  lives,  of 
Her  Majesty's  subjects,  especially  of  the  poorer  class ; 
and  although,  within  such  walls,  enough  fantastic  tricks 
are  daily  played  to  make  the  angels  blind  with  weeping ; 
they  are  closed  to  the  public,  save  through  the  medium 
of  the  daily  press.*  Mr.  Fang  was  consequently  not  a 
little  indignant  to  see  an  unbidden  guest  enter  in  such 
irreverent  disorder. 

"What  is  this?  Who  is  this?  Turn  this  man  out. 
Clear  the  office  ! "  cried  Mr.  Fang. 

"  I  will  speak,"  cried  the  man  ;  "  I  will  not  be  turned 
out.  I  saw  it  all.  I  keep  the  book-stall.  I  demand  to 
be  sworn.  I  will  not  be  put  down.  Mr.  Fang,  you 
must  hear  me.     You  must  not  refuse,  sir." 

The  man  was  right.  His  manner  was  determined ; 
and  the  matter  was  growing  rather  too  serious  to  be 
hushed  up. 

*  Or  were  virtually,  then. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  125 

"  Swear  the  man,"  growled  Mr.  Fang,  with  a  very  ill 
grace.     "  Now,  man,  what  have  you  got  to  say  ?  " 

"  This,"  said  the  man  :  "  I  saw  three  boys  :  two  others 
and  the  prisoner  here  :  loitering  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  way,  when  this  gentleman  was  reading.  The  rob- 
bery was  committed  by  another  boy.  I  saw  it  done  : 
and  I  saw  that  this  boy  was  perfectly  amazed  and  stu- 
pefied by  it."  Having  by  this  time  recovered  a  little 
breath,  the  worthy  book-stall  keeper  proceeded  to  relate, 
in  a  more  coherent  manner,  the  exact  circumstances  of 
the  robbery. 

"  Why  didn't  you  come  here  before  ?  "  said  Fang,  after 
a  pause. 

"  I  hadn't  a  soul  to  mind  the  shop,"  replied  the  man. 
"  Everybody  who  could  have  helped  me,  had  joined  in 
the  pursuit.  I  could  get  nobody  till  five  minutes  ago ; 
and  I've  run  here  all  the  way." 

"  The  prosecutor  was  reading,  was  he  ? "  inquired 
Fang,  after  another  pause. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  man.  "  The  very  book  he  has  in 
his  hand." 

«  Oh,  that  book,  eh  ?  "  said  Fang.     "  Is  it  paid  for  ?  " 

"  No,  it  is  not,"  replied  the  man,  with  a  smile. 

"  Dear  me  I  forgot  all  about  it ! "  exclaimed  the  absent 
old  gentleman,  innocently. 

"  A  nice  person  to  prefer  a  charge  against  a  poor 
boy  !  "  said  Fang,  with  a  comical  effort  to  look  humane. 
"  I  consider,  sir,  that  you  have  obtained  possession  of 
that  book,  under  very  suspicious  and  disreputable  cir- 
cumstances ;  and  you  may  think  yourself  very  fortunate 
that  the  owner  of  the  property  declines  to  prosecute. 
Let  this  be  a  lesson  to  you,  my  man,  or  the  law  will 
overtake  you  yet.  The  boy  is  discharged.  Clear  the 
office." 


126  OLIVER  TWTST. 

"  D — n  me !  "  cried  the  old  gentleman,  bursting  out 
with  the  rage   he    had   kept   down    so    long,  "  d — me  ! 

rii"— 

"  Clear  the  office  ! "  said  the  magistrate.  "  Officers,  do 
you  hear  ?     Clear  the  office  !  " 

The  mandate  was  obeyed ;  and  the  indignant  Mr. 
Brownlow  was  conveyed  out,  with  the  book  in  one  hand, 
and  the  bamboo  cane  in  the  other :  in  a  perfect  frenzy 
of  rage  and  defiance.  He  reached  the  yard ;  and  his 
passion  vanished  in  a  moment.  Little  Oliver  Twist 
lay  on  his  back  on  the  pavement,  with  his  shirt  unbut- 
toned, and  his  temples  bathed  with  water ;  his  face  a 
deadly  white  ;  and  a  cold  tremble  convulsing  his  whole 
frame. 

"  Poor  boy,  poor  boy  !  "  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  bending 
over  him.     "  Call  a  coach,  somebody,  pray.     Directly  !  " 

A  coach  was  obtained,  and  Ohver,  having  been  care- 
fully laid  on  one  seat,  the  old  gentleman  got  in  and  sat 
himself  on  the  other. 

"  May  I  accompany  you  ?  "  said  the  book-stall  keeper, 
looking  in. 

"  Bless  me,  yes,  my  dear  sir,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow 
quickly.  "  I  forgot  you.  Dear,  dear !  I  have  this  un- 
happy book  still !  Jump  in.  Poor  fellow  !  there's  no 
time  to  lose." 

The  book-stall  keeper  got  into  the  coach ;  and  away 
they  drove. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  127 


CHAPTER  XII. 

IN  WHICH  OLIVER  IS  TAKEN  BETTER  CARE  OF  THAN 
HE  EVER  WAS  BEFORE.  AND  IN  WHICH  THE  NAR- 
RATIVE REVERTS  TO  THE  MERRY  OLD  GENTLEMAN 
AND    HIS    YOUTHFUL    FRIENDS. 

The  coach  rattled  away,  down  Mount  Pleasant  and 
up  Exmouth-street :  over  nearly  the  same  ground  as 
that  which  Oliver  had  traversed  when  he  first  entered 
London  in  company  with  the  Dodger ;  and,  turning  a 
different  way  when  it  reached  the  Angel  at  Islington, 
stopped  at  length  before  a  neat  house,  in  a  quiet  shady 
street  near  Pentonville.  Here  a  bed  was  prepared  with- 
out loss  of  time,  in  which  Mr.  Brownlow  saw  his  young 
charge  carefully  and  comfortably  deposited  ;  and  here, 
he  was  tended  with  a  kindness  and  solicitude  that  knew 
no  bounds. 

But,  for  many  days,  Oliver  remained  insensible  to  all 
the  goodness  of  his  new  friends.  The  sun  rose  and  sunk, 
and  rose  and  sunk  again,  and  many  times  after  that ;  and 
still  the  boy  lay  stretched  on  his  uneasy  bed,  dwindling 
away  beneath  the  dry  and  wasting  heat  of  fever.  The 
worm  does  not  his  work  more  surely  on  the  dead  body, 
than  does  this  slow  creeping  fire  upon  the  living  frame. 

Weak,  and  thin,  and  pallid,  he  awoke  at  last  from 
what  seemed  to  have  been  a  long  and  troubled  dream. 


128  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Feebly  raising  himself  in  the  bed,  with  his  head  resting 
on  his  trembling  arm,  he  looked  anxiously  around. 

"  What  room  is  this  ?  Where  have  I  been  brought 
to  ? "  said  Oliver.  "  This  is  not  the  place  I  went  to 
sleep  in." 

He  uttered  these  words  in  a  feeble  voice,  being  very 
faint  and  weak ;  but  they  were  overheard  at  once ;  for 
the  curtain  at  the  bed's  head  was  hastily  drawn  back, 
and  a  motherly  old  lady,  very  neatly  and  precisely 
dressed,  rose  as  she  undrew  it,  from  an  arm-chair  close 
by,  in  which  she  had  been  sitting  at  needle-work. 

"  Hush,  my  dear,"  said  the  old  lady  softly.  "  You  must 
be  very  quiet,  or  you  will  be  ill  again ;  and  you  have 
been  very  bad,  —  as  bad  as  bad  could  be,  pretty  nigh. 
Lie  down  again  :  there's  a  dear."  With  these  words, 
the  old  lady  very  gently  placed  Oliver's  head  upon  the 
pillow  ;  and  smoothing  back  his  hair  from  his  forehead, 
looked  so  kindly  and  lovingly  in  his  face,  that  he  could 
not  help  placing  his  little  withered  hand  in  hers,  and 
drawing  it  round  his  neck. 

"  Save  us  !  "  said  the  old  lady,  with  tears  in  her  eyes, 
"  what  a  grateful  little  dear  it  is.  Pretty  creetur' !  what 
would  his  mother  feel  if  she  had  sat  by  him  as  I  have, 
and  could  see  him  now  !  " 

"  Perhaps  she  does  see  me,"  whispered  Oliver,  folding 
his  hands  together;  "perhaps  she  has  sat  by  me.  I 
almost  feel  as  if  she  had." 

"  That  was  the  fever,  my  dear,"  said  the  old  lady 
mildly. 

"  I  suppose  it  was,"  replied  Oliver,  "  because  Heaven 
is  a  long  way  off;  and  they  are  too  happy  there,  to  come 
down  to  the  bedside  of  a  poor  boy.  But  if  she  knew  I 
was  ill,  she  must  have  pitied  me,  even  there ;  for  she 


OLIVER  TWIST.  129 

was  very  ill  herself  before  she  died.  She  can't  know 
anything  about  me  though,"  added  Oliver  after  a  mo- 
ment's silence.  "  If  she  had  seen  me  hurt,  it  would  have 
made  her  sorrowful ;  and  her  face  has  always  looked 
sweet  and  happy,  when  I  have  dreamed  of  her." 

The  old  lady  made  no  reply  to  this  ;  but  wiping  her 
eyes  first,  and  her  spectacles,  which  lay  on  the  counter- 
pane, afterwards,  as  if  they  were  part  and  parcel  of  those 
features,  brought  some  cool  stuflf  for  Oliver  to  drink  ;  and 
then,  patting  him  on  the  cheek,  told  him  he  must  lie 
very  quiet,  or  he  would  be  ill  again. 

So,  Oliver  kept  very  still ;  partly  because  he  was 
anxious  to  obey  the  kind  old  hidy  in  all  things;  and 
partly,  to  tell  the  truth,  because  he  was  completely  ex- 
hausted with  what  he  had  already  said.  He  soon  fell 
into  a  gentle  doze,  from  which  he  was  awakened  by  the 
light  of  a  candle  :  which  being  brought  near  the  bed, 
showed  him  a  gentleman,  with  a  very  large  and  loud- 
ticking  gold  watch  in  his  hand,  who  felt  his  pulse,  and 
said  he  was  a  great  deal  better. 

"  You  are  a  great  deal  better,  are  you  not,  my  dear  ?  " 
said  the  gentleman. 

"  Yes,  thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  Yes,  I  know  you  are,"  said  the  gentleman  :  "  You're 
hungry  too,  a'n't  you  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,"  answered  Oliver. 

"  Hem  !  "  said  the  gentleman.  "  No,  I  know  you're 
not.  He  is  not  hungry,  Mrs.  Bedwin,"  said  the  gentle- 
man :  looking  very  wise. 

The  old  lady  made  a  respectful  inclination  of  the  head, 
which  seemed  to  say  that  she  thought  the  doctor  was  a 
very  clever  man.  The  doctor  appeared  much  of  the 
same  opinion  himself. 


130  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  You  feel  sleepy,  don't  you,  my  dear  ? "  said  the 
doctor. 

"  No,  sir,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  No,"  said  the  doctor  with  a  very  shrewd  and  satisfied 
look.     "  You're  not  sleej)y.     Nor  thirsty.     Are  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  rather  thirsty,"  answered  Oliver. 

"  Just  as  I  expected,  Mrs.  Bedwin,"  said  the  doctor. 
"  It's  very  natural  that  he  should  be  thirsty.  You  may 
give  him  a  little  tea,  ma'am,  and  some  dry  toast  without 
any  butter.  Don't  keep  him  too  warm,  ma'am ;  but  be 
careful  that  you  don't  let  him  be  too  cold  —  will  you 
have  the  goodness  ?  " 

The  old  lady  dropped  a  courtesy.  The  doctor,  after 
tasting  the  cool  stuff,  and  expressing  a  qualified  approval 
thereof,  hurried  away :  his  boots  cracking  in  a  very  im- 
portant and  wealthy  manner  as  he  went  down-stairs. 

Oliver  dozed  off  again,  soon  after  this ;  when  he 
awoke,  it  was  nearly  twelve  o'clock.  The  old  lady  ten- 
derly bade  him  good-night  shortly  afterwards,  and  left 
him  in  charge  of  a  fat  old  woman  who  had  just  come : 
bringing  with  her,  in  a  little  bundle,  a  small  Prayer  Book 
and  a  large  nightcap.  Putting  the  latter  on  her  head 
and  the  former  on  the  table,  the  old  woman,  after  telling 
Oliver  that  she  had  come  to  sit  up  with  him,  drew  her 
chair  close  to  the  fire  and  went  off  into  a  series  of  short 
naps,  checkered  at  frequent  intervals  with  sundry  tum- 
blings forward,  and  divers  moans  and  chokings  :  which, 
however,  had  no  worse  effect  than  causing  her  to  rub 
her  nose  very  hard,  and  then  fall  asleep  again. 

And  thus  the  night  crept  slowly  on.  Oliver  lay 
awake  for  some  time,  counting  the  little  circles  of  light, 
which  the  reflection  of  the  rushlight-shade  threw  upon 
the  ceiling ;  or  tracing  with  his  languid  eyes  the  intricate 


OLIVER  TWIST.  131 

pattern  of  the  paper  on  the  wall.  The  darkness  and  the 
deep  stillness  of  the  room  were  very  solemn ;  and  as  they 
brought  into  the  boy's  mind  the  thought  that  death  had 
been  hovering  there,  for  many  days  and  nights,  and 
might  jet  fill  it  with  the  gloom  and  dread  of  his  awful 
presence,  he  turned  his  face  upon  the  pillow,  and  fer- 
vently prayed   to  Heaven. 

Gradually,  he  fell  into  that  deep  tranquil  sleep  which 
ease  from  recent  suffering  alone  imparts ;  that  calm  and 
peaceful  rest  which  it  is  pain  to  wake  from.  Who,  if 
this  were  death,  would  be  roused  again  to  all  the  strug- 
gles and  turmoils  of  Hfe  ;  to  all  its  cares  for  the  present ; 
its  anxieties  for  the  future;  more  than  all,  its  weary 
recollections  of  the  past ! 

It  had  been  bright  day  for  hours  when  Oliver  opened 
his  eyes ;  and  when  he  did  so  he  felt  cheerful  and  happy. 
The  crisis  of  the  disease  was  safely  past.  He  belonged 
to  the  world  again. 

In  three  days'  time  he  was  able  to  sit  in  an  easy-chair, 
well  propped  up  with  pillows ;  and,  as  he  was  still 
too  weak  to  walk,  Mrs.  Bedwin  had  him  carried  down- 
stairs into  the  little  housekeeper's  room,  which  belonged 
to  her.  Having  him  sat  here,  by  the  fireside,  the  good 
old  lady  sat  herself  down  too  ;  and,  being  in  a  state  of 
considerable  delight  at  seeing  him  so  much  better,  forth- 
with began  to  cry  most  violently. 

"  Never  mind  me,  my  dear,"  said  the  old  lady.  "  I'm 
only  having  a  regular  good  cry.  There ;  it's  all  over 
now ;  and  I'm  quite  comfortable." 

"  You're  very,  very  kind  to  me,  ma'am,"  said  Oliver. 

"  Well,  never  you  mind  that,  my  dear,"  said  the  old 
lady ;  "  that's  got  nothing  to  do.  with  your  broth  ;  and 
it's  full  time  you  had  it ;  for  the  doctor  says  Mr.  Brown- 


132  OLIVER  TWIST. 

low  may  come  in  to  see  you  this  morning ;  and  we  must 
get  up  our  best  looks,  because  the  better  we  look,  the 
more  he'll  be  pleased."  And  with  this,  the  old  lady  ap- 
plied herself  to  warming  up,  in  a  little  saucepan,  a  basin 
full  of  broth :  strong  enough,  Oliver  thought,  to  furnish 
an  ample  dinner,  when  reduced  to  the  regulation  strength, 
for  three  hundred  and  fifty  paupers,  at  the  lowest  com- 
putation. 

"  Are  you  fond  of  pictures,  dear  ?  "  inquired  the  old 
lady,  seeing  that  Oliver  had  fixed  his  eyes,  most  intently, 
on  a  portrait  which  hung  against  the  wall :  just  opposite 
his  chair. 

"I  don't  quite  know,  ma'am,"  said  Oliver,  without 
taking  his  eyes  from  the  canvas  ;  "  I  have  seen  so  few 
that  I  hardly  know.  What  a  beautiful  mild  face  that 
lady's  is ! " 

"  Ah ! "  said  the  old  lady,  "  painters  always  make 
ladies  out  prettier  than  they  are,  or  they  wouldn't  get 
any  custom,  child.  The  man  that  invented  the  machine 
for  taking  likenesses  might  have  known  that  would  never 
succeed ;  it's  a  deal  too  honest.  A  deal,"  said  the  old 
lady,  laughing  very  heartily  at  her  own  acuteness. 

"  Is  —  is  that  a  likeness,  ma'am  ?  "  said  Oliver. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  old  lady,  looking  up  for  a  moment 
from  the  broth ;  "  that's  a  portrait." 

"  Whose,  ma'am  ?  "  asked  Oliver. 

"  Why,  really,  my  dear,  I  don't  know,"  answered  the 
old  lady  in  a  good-humored  manner.  "  It's  not  a  like- 
ness of  anybody  that  you  or  I  know,  I  expect.  It  seems 
to  strike  your  fancy,  dear." 

"  It  is  so  very  pretty,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  Why,  sure  you're  not  afraid  of  it  ?  "  said  the  old 
lady  :  observing,  in  great  surprise,  the  look  of  awe  with 
which  the  child  regarded  the  painting. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  133 

"  Oh  no,  no,"  returned  Oliver  quickly  ;  "  but  the  eyes 
look  so  sorrowful ;  and  where  I  sit,  they  seem  fixed  upon 
me.  It  makes  my  heart  beat,"  added  Oliver  in  a  low 
voice,  "  as  if  it  was  alive,  and  wanted  to  speak  to  me, 
but  couldn't." 

"  Lord  save  us  !  "  exclaimed  the  old  lady,  starting ; 
"  don't  talk  in  that  way,  child.  You're  weak  and  ner- 
vous after  your  illness.  Let  me  wheel  your  chair  round 
to  the  other  side  ;  and  then  you  won't  see  it.  There  !  " 
said  the  old  lady,  suiting  the  action  to  the  word  ;  "  you 
don't  see  it  now,  at  all  events." 

Oliver  did  see  it  in  his  mind's  eye  as  distinctly  as  if 
he  had  not  altered  his  position  ;  but  he  thought  it  better 
not  to  worry  the  kind  old  lady ;  so  he  smiled  gently  when 
she  looked  at  him ;  and  Mrs.  Bedwin,  satisfied  that  he 
felt  more  comfortable,  salted  and  broke  bits  of  toasted 
bread  into  the  broth,  with  all  the  bustle  befitting  so 
solemn  a  preparation.  Oliver  got  through  it  with  ex- 
traordinary expedition.  He  had  scarcely  swallowed 
the  last  spoonful,  when  there  came  a  soft  tap  at  the 
door.  "  Come  in,"  said  the  old  lady ;  and  in  walked 
Mr.  Brownlow. 

Now,  the  old  gentleman  came  in  as  brisk  as  need  be ; 
but,  he  had  no  sooner  raised  his  spectacles  on  his  fore- 
head, and  thrust  his  hands  behind  the  skirts  of  his 
dressing-gown  to  take  a  good  long  look  at  Oliver,  than 
his  countenance  underwent  a  very  great  variety  of  odd 
contortions.  Oliver  looked  very  worn  and  shadowy 
from  sickness,  and  made  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  stand 
ap,  out  of  respect  to  his  benefactor,  which  terminated 
in  his  sinking  back  into  the  chair  again  ;  and  the  fact 
is,  if  the  truth  must  be  told,  that  Mr.  Brownlow's  heart, 
being  large  enough  for  any  six  ordinary  old  gentlemen 


134  OLIVER  TWIST. 

of  humane  disposition,  forced  a  supply  of  tears  into  his 
eyes,  by  some  hydraulic  process  which  we  are  not  suffi- 
ciently philosophical  to  be  in  a  condition  to  explain. 

"  Poor  boy,  poor  boy  !  "  said  Mr.  Bro.wnlow,  clearing 
his  throat.  "  I'm  rather  hoarse  this  morning,  Mrs.  Bed- 
win.     I'm  afraid  I  have  caught  cold." 

"  I  hope  not,  sir,'*  says  Mrs.  Bedwin.  "  Everything 
you  have  had,  has  been  well  aired,  sir." 

"  I  don't  know,  Bedwin.  I  don't  know,"  said  Mr. 
Brownlow  ;  "  I  rather  think  I  had  a  damp  napkin  at 
dinner-time  yesterday ;  but  never  mind  that.  How  do 
you  feel,  my  dear?" 

"  Very  happy,  sir,"  replied  Oliver.  "  And  very  grate- 
ful indeed,  sir,  for  your  goodness  to  me." 

"  Good  boy,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  stoutly.  "  Have 
you  given  him  any  nourishment,  Bedwin?  Any  slops, 
eh?" 

"  He  has  just  had  a  basin  of  beautiful  strong  broth, 
sir,"  replied  Mrs.  Bedwin  :  drawing  herself  up  slightly, 
and  laying  a  strong  emphasis  on  the  last  word :  to  inti- 
mate that  between  slops,  and  broth  well  compounded, 
there  existed  no  affinity  or  connection  whatsoever. 

"  Ugh ! "  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  with  a  slight  shudder ; 
"  a  couple  of  glasses  of  port-wine  would  have  done  him 
a  great  deal  more  good.  Wouldn't  they,  Tom  White, 
eh?" 

"  My  name  is  Oliver,  sir,"  replied  the  little  invalid  : 
with  a  look  of  great  astonishment. 

"  Oliver,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow;  "Oliver  what?  Oliver 
White,  eh  ?  " 

«  No,  sir,  Twist,  Ohver  Twist." 

"  Queer  name  !  "  said  the  old  gentleman.  "  What 
made  you  tell  the  magistrate  your  name  was  White?" 


OLIVER  TWIST.  135 

"  I  never  told  him  so,  sir,"  returned  Oliver  in  amaze- 
ment. 

This  sounded  so  like  a  falsehood,  that  the  old  gentle- 
man looked  somewhat  sternly  in  Oliver's  face.  It  was 
impossible  to  doubt  him  ;  there  was  truth  in  every  one 
of  its  thin  and  sharpened  lineaments. 

"  Some  mistake,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow.  But,  although 
his  motive  for  looking  steadily  at  Oliver  no  longer  ex- 
isted, the  old  idea  of  the  resemblance  between  his  fea- 
tures and  some  familiar  face  came  upon  him  so  strongly, 
that  he  could  not  withdraw  his  gaze. 

"  I  hope  you  are  not  angry  with  me,  sir  ?  "  said  Oliver, 
raising  his  eyes  beseechingly. 

"  No,  no,"  replied  the  old  gentleman.  "  Why  !  what's 
this  ?     Bedwin,  look  there  !  " 

As  he  spoke,  he  pointed  hastily  to  the  picture  above 
Oliver's  head ;  and  then  to  the  boy's  face.  There  was 
its  living  copy.  The  eyes,  the  head,  the  mouth  ;  every 
feature  was  the  same.  The  expression  was,  for  the  in- 
stant, so  precisely  alike,  that  the  minutest  line  seemed 
copied  with  a  startling  accuracy! 

Oliver  knew  not  the  cause  of  this  sudden  exclama- 
tion ;  for,  not  being  strong  enough  to  bear  the  start  it 
gave  him,  he  fainted  away.  A  weakness  on  his  part, 
which  affords  the  narrative  an  opportunity  of  relieving 
the  reader  from  suspense,  in  behalf  of  the  two  young 
pupils  of  the  Merry  Old  Gentleman ;  and  of  record- 
ing— 

That  when  the  Dodger,  and  his  accomplished  friend 
Master  Bates,  joined  in  the  hue-and-cry  which  was 
raised  at  Oliver's  heels,  in  consequence  of  their  execut- 
ing an  illegal  conveyance  of  Mr.  Brownlow's  personal 
property,  as  has  been  already  described,  they  were  actu- 


136  OLIVER  TWIST. 

ated  by  a  very  laudable  and  becoming  regard  for  them- 
selves ;  and  forasmuch  as  the  freedom  of  the  subject 
and  the  liberty  of  the  individual  are  among  the  first 
and  proudest  boasts  of  a  true-hearted  Englishman,  so, 
I  need  hardly  beg  the  reader  to  observe,  that  this  ac- 
tion should  tend  to  exalt  them  in  the  opinion  of  all 
public  and  patriotic  men,  in  almost  as  great  a  degree 
as  this  strong  proof  of  their  anxiety  for  their  own 
preservation  and  safety,  goes  to  corroborate  and  confirm 
the  little  code  of  laws  which  certain  profound  and  sound- 
judging  philosophers  have  laid  down  as  the  mainsprings 
of  all  Nature's  deeds  and  actions  :  the  said  philosophers 
very  wisely  reducing  the  good  lady's  proceedings  to  mat- 
ters of  maxim  and  theory  :  and,  by  a  very  neat  and 
pretty  compliment  to  her  exalted  wisdom  and  under- 
standing, putting  entirely  out  of  sight  any  considerations 
of  heart,  or  generous  impulse  and  feeling.  For,  these 
are  matters  totally  beneath  a  female  who  is  acknowl- 
edged by  universal  admission  to  be  far  above  the  numer- 
ous little  foibles  and  weaknesses  of  her  sex. 

If  I  wanted  any  further  proof  of  the  strictly  philo- 
sophical nature  of  the  conduct  of  these  young  gentlemen 
in  their  very  delicate  predicament,  I  should  at  once  find 
it  in  the  fact  (also  recorded  in  a  foregoing  part  of  this 
narrative),  of  their  quitting  the  pursuit,  when  the  gen- 
eral attention  was  fixed  upon  Oliver ;  and  making  im- 
mediately for  their  home  by  the  shortest  possible  cut. 
Although  I  do  not  mean  to  assert  that  it  is  usually  the 
practice  of  renowned  and  learned  sages,  to  shorten  the 
road  to  any  great  conclusion ;  their  course  indeed  being 
rather  to  lengthen  the  distance  by  various  circumlocu- 
tions and  discursive  staggerings,  like  unto  those  in  which 
drunken  men  under  the  pressure  of  a  too  mighty  flow 


OLIVER  TWIST.  137 

of  ideas,  are  prone  to  indulge  ;  still,  I  do  mean  to  say, 
and  do  saj  distinctly,  that  it  is  the  invariable  practice 
of  many  mighty  philosophers,  in  carrying  out  their 
theories,  to  evince  great  wisdom  and  foresight  in  pro- 
viding against  every  possible  contingency  which  can  be 
supposed  at  all  likely  to  affect  themselves.  Thus,  to 
do  a  great  right,  you  may  do  a  little  wrong ;  and  you 
may  take  any  means  which  the  end  to  be  attained,  will 
justify ;  the  amount  of  the  right,  or  the  amount  of  the 
wrong,  or  indeed  the  distinction  between  the  two,  being 
left  entirely  to  the  philosopher  concerned ;  to  be  settled 
and  determined  by  his  clear,  comprehensive,  and  impar- 
tial view  of  his  own  particular  case. 

It  was  not  until  the  two  boys  had  scoured,  with  great 
rapidity,  through  a  most  intricate  maze  of  narrow  streets 
and  courts,  that  they  ventured  to  halt  by  one  consent, 
beneath  a  low  and  dark  archway.  Having  remained 
silent  here,  just  long  enough  to  recover  breath  to  speak, 
Master  Bates  uttered  an  exclamation  of  amusement  and 
dehght ;  and  bursting  into  an  uncontrollable  fit  of  laugh- 
ter, flung  himself  upon  a  door-step,  and  rolled  thereon  in 
a  transport  of  mirth. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?  "  inquired  the  Dodger. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  "  roared  Charley  Bates. 

"  Hold  your  noise,"  remonstrated  the  Dodger,  look- 
ing cautiously  round.  "  Do  you  want  to  be  grabbed, 
stupid  ?  " 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  said  Charley,  "  I  can't  help  it !  To 
see  him  splitting  away  at  that  pace,  and  cutting  round 
the  corners,  and  knocking  up  again  the  posts,  and  start- 
ing on  again  as  if  he  was  made  of  iron  as  well  as 
them,  and  me  with  the  wipe  in  my  pocket,  singing  out 
arter  him  —  oh,  my  eye  !  "     The  vivid  imagination  of 


138  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Master  Bates,  presented  the  scene  before  him  in  too 
strong  colors.  As  he  arrived  at  this  apostrophe,  he 
again  rolled  upon  the  door-step,  and  laughed  louder 
than  before. 

"  What  '11  Fagin  say  ?  "  inquired  the  Dodger  ;  taking 
advantage  of  the  next  interval  of  breathlessness  on  the 
part  of  his  friend  to  propound  the  question. 

"  What  ?  "  repeated  Charley  Bates. 

"  Ah,  what  ?  "  said  the  Dodger. 

"  Why,  what  should  he  say  ?  "  inquired  Charley  :  stop- 
ping rather  suddenly  in  his  merriment ;  for  the  Dodger's 
manner  was  impressive.     "  What  should  he  say  ?  " 

Mr.  Dawkins  whistled  for  a  couple  of  minutes  ;  then, 
taking  off  his  hat,  scratched  his  head,  and  nodded  thrice. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  Charley. 

"  Toor  rul  lol  loo,  gammon  and  spinnage,  the  frog  he 
wouldn't,  and  high  cockolorum,"  said  the  Dodger :  with 
a  slight  sneer  on  his  intellectual  countenance. 

This  was  explanatory,  but  not  satisfactory.  Master 
Bates  felt  it  so  ;  and  again  said,  "  What  do  you  mean  ?  " 

The  Dodger  made  no  reply;  but  putting  his  hat  on 
again  and  gathering  the  skirts  of  his  long-tailed  coat 
under  his  arm,  thrust  his  tongue  into  his  cheek,  slapped 
the  bridge  of  his  nose  some  half-dozen  times  in  a  familiar 
but  expressive  manner ;  and  turning  on  his  heel  slunk 
down  the  court.  Master  Bates  followed,  with  a  thought- 
ful countenance. 

The  noise  of  footsteps  on  the  creaking  stairs,  a  few 
minutes  after  the  occurrence  of  this  conversation,  roused 
the  merry  old  gentleman  as  he  sat  over  the  fire  with  a 
saveloy  and  a  small  loaf  in  his  left  hand ;  a  pocket-knife 
in  his  right ;  and  a  pewter  pot  on  the  trivet.  There  was 
a  ra^^cally  smile  on  his  white  face  as  he  turned  round ; 


OLIVER  TWIST.  139 

and,  looking  sharply  out  from  under  his  thick  red  eye- 
brows, bent  his  ear  towards  the  door,  and  listened  in- 
tently. 

"  Why,  how's  this  ?  "  muttered  the  Jew  :  changing 
countenance ;  "  only  two  of  'em  ?  Where's  the  third  ? 
They  can't  have  got  into  trouble.     Hark  ! " 

The  footsteps  approached  nearer ;  they  reached  the 
landing.  The  door  was  slowly  opened ;  and  the  Dodger 
and  Charley  Bates  entered,  closing  it  behind  them. 


140  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SOME  NEW  ACQUAINTANCES  ARE  INTRODUCED  TO  THE 
INTELLIGENT  READER  ;  CONNECTED  WITH  WHOM, 
VARIOUS  PLEASANT  MATTERS  ARE  RELATED,  AP- 
PERTAINING   TO    THIS    HISTORY. 

"  Where's  Oliver  ?  "  said  the  furious  Jew  rising  with 
a  menacing  look.     "  Where's  the  boy  ?  " 

The  young  thieves  eyed  their  preceptor  as  if  they 
were  alarmed  at  his  violence ;  and  looked  uneasily  at 
each  other.     But  they  made  no  reply, 

"  What's  become  of  the  boy  ?  "  said  the  Jew,  seizing 
the  Dodger  tightly  by  the  collar,  and  threatening  him 
with  horrid  imprecations.  "  Speak  out,  or  I'll  throttle 
you!" 

Mr.  Fagin  looked  so  very  much  in  earnest,  that 
Charley  Bates,  who  deemed  it  prudent  in  all  cases  to  be 
on  the  safe  side,  and  who  conceived  it  by  no  means  im- 
probable that  it  might  be  his  turn  to  be  throttled  second, 
dropped  upon  his  knees,  and  raised  a  loud,  well-sustained, 
and  continuous  roar  —  something  between  a  mad  bull 
and  a  speaking  trumpet. 

"  Will  you  speak  ?  "  thundered  the  Jew  :  shaking  the 
Dodger  so  much  that  his  keeping  in  the  big  coat  at  all 
seemed  perfectly  miraculous. 

"  Why,  the  traps  have  got  him,  and  that's  all  about 


OLIVER  TWIST.  141 

it,"  said  the  Dodger,  sullenly.  "  Come,  let  go  o'  me,  will 
you !  "  And,  swinging  himself,  at  one  jerk,  clean  out  of 
the  big  coat,  which  he  left  in  the  Jew's  hands,  the  Dodger 
snatched  up  the  toasting-fork,  and  made  a  pass  at  the 
merry  old  gentleman's  waistcoat ;  which,  if  it  had  taken 
effect,  would  have  let  a  little  more  merriment  out,  than 
could  have  been  easily  replaced  in  a  month  or  two. 

The  Jew  stepped  back,  in  this  emergency,  with  more 
agility  than  could  have  been  anticipated  in  a  man  of  his 
apparent  decrepitude ;  and,  seizing  up  the  pot,  prepared 
to  hurl  it  at  his  assailant's  head.  But,  Charley  Bates, 
at  this  moment,  calling  his  attention  by  a  perfectly  ter- 
rific howl,  he  suddenly  altered  its  destination,  and  flung 
it  full  at  that  young  gentleman. 

"  Why,  what  the  blazes  is  in  the  wind  now !  "  growled 
a  deep  voice.  "  Who  pitched  that  'ere  at  me  ?  It's 
well  it's  the  beer,  and  not  the  pot,  as  hit  me,  or  I'd  have 
settled  somebody.  I  might  have  know'd,  as  nobody  but 
an  infernal,  rich,  plundering,  thundering  old  Jew,  could 
afford  to  throw  away  any  drink  but  water  —  and  not 
that,  unless  he  done  the  River  Company  every  quarter. 
Wot's  it  all  about,  Fagin  ?  D — me,  if  my  neck-handker- 
cher  a'n't  lined  with  beer  !  Come  in,  you  sneaking  war- 
mint  ;  wot  are  you  stopping  outside  for,  as  if  you  was 
ashamed  of  your  master  !     Come  in  ! " 

The  man  who  growled  out  these  words,  was  a  stoutly- 
built  fellow  of  about  five-and-thirty,  in  a  black  velveteen 
coat,  very  soiled  drab  breeches,  lace-up  half  boots,  and 
gray  cotton  stockings,  which  enclosed  a  bulky  pair  of 
legs,  with  large  swelling  calves ;  —  the  kind  of  legs, 
which  in  such  costume,  always  look  in  an  unfinished  and 
incomplete  state  without  a  set  of  fetters  to  garnish  them. 
He  had  a  brown  hat  on  his  head,  and  a  dirty  belcher 


142  OLIVER  TWIST. 

handkercliief  round  his  neck :  with  the  long  frayed  ends 
of  which,  he  smeared  the  beer  from  his  face  as  he  spoke. 
He  disclosed,  when  he  had  done  so,  a  broad  heavy  coun- 
tenance with  a  beard  of  three  days'  growth,  and  two 
scowling  eyes  ;  one  of  which,  displayed  various  parti- 
colored symptoms  of  having  been  recently  damaged  by 
a  blow. 

"  Come  in,  d'ye  hear  ?  "  growled  this  engaging  ruffian. 

A  white  shaggy  dog,  with  his  face  scratched  and  torn 
in  twenty  different  places,  skulked  into  the  room. 

"  Why  didn't  you  come  in  afore  ? "  said  the  man. 
"  You're  getting  too  proud  to  own  me  afore  company,  are 
you  ?     Lie  down  !  " 

This  command  was  accompanied  with  a  kick,  which 
sent  the  animal  to  the  other  end  of  the  room.  He  ap- 
peared well  used  to  it,  however;  for  he  coiled  himself 
up  in  a  corner  very  quietly,  without  uttering  a  sound ; 
and,  winking  his  very  ill-looking  eyes  about  twenty  times 
in  a  minute,  appeared  to  occupy  himself  in  taking  a  sur- 
vey of  the  apartment. 

"  What  are  you  up  to  ?  Ill-treating  the  boys,  you 
covetous,  avaricious,  in-sa-ti-a-ble  old  fence?"  said  the 
man,  seating  himself  deliberately.  "  I  wonder  they  don't 
murder  you  !  /would  if  I  was  them.  If  I'd  been  your 
'prentice,  I'd  have  done  it  long  ago  ;  and — no,  I  couldn't 
have  sold  you  afterwards,  though,  for  you're  fit  for  noth- 
ing but  keeping  as  a  curiosity  of  ugliness  in  a  glass 
bottle,  and  I  suppose  they  don't  blow  glass  bottles  large 
enough." 

"  Hush  !  hush  !  Mr.  Sikes,"  said  the  Jew,  trembling  ; 
"  don't  speak  so  loud." 

"  None  of  your  mistering,"  replied  the  ruffian ;  "  you 
always  mean  mischief  when  you  come  that.     You  know 


OLIVER  TWIST.  143 

mj  name :  out  with  it !  I  shan't  disgrace  it  when  the 
time  comes." 

"Well,  well,  then  —  Bill  Sikes,"  said  the  Jew,  with 
abject  humility.     "You  seem  out  of  humor,  Bill." 

"  Perhaps  I  am,"  replied  Sikes  ;  "  I  should  think  you 
was  rather  out  of  sorts  too,  unless  you  mean  as  little 
harm  when  you  throw  pewter  pots  about,  as  you  do  when 
you  blab  and  "  — 

"  Are  you  mad  ?  "  said  the  Jew,  catching  the  man  by 
the  sleeve,  and  pointing  towards  the  boys. 

Mr.  Sikes  contented  himself  with  tying  an  imaginary 
knot  under  his  left  ear,  and  jerking  his  head  over  on  the 
right  shoulder ;  a  piece  of  dumb  show  which  the  Jew 
appeared  to  understand  perfectly.  He  then,  in  cant 
terms  with  which  his  whole  conversation  was  plenti- 
fully besprinkled,  but  which  would  be  quite  unintelli- 
gible if  they  were  recorded  here,  demanded  a  glass  of 
liquor. 

"  And  mind  you  don't  poison  it,"  said  Mr.  Sikes,  lay- 
ing his  hat  upon  the  table. 

This  was  said  in  jest ;  but  if  the  speaker  could  have 
seen  the  evil  leer  with  which  the  Jew  bit  his  pale  lip  as 
he  turned  round  to  the  cupboard,  he  might  have  thought 
the  caution  not  wholly  unnecessary,  or  the  wish  (at  all 
events)  to  improve  upon  the  distiller's  ingenuity  not 
very  far  from  the  old  gentleman's  merry  heart. 

After  swallowing  two  or  three  glasses  of  spirits,  Mr. 
Sikes  condescended  to  take  some  notice  of  the  young 
gentlemen ;  which  gracious  act  led  to  a  conversation,  in 
which  the  cause  and  manner  of  Oliver's  capture  were 
circumstantially  detailed,  with  such  alterations  and  im- 
provements on  the  truth,  as  to  the  Dodger  appeared 
most  advisable  under  the  circumstances. 


144  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  I'm  afraid,"  said  the  Jew,  "  that  he  may  say  some- 
thing which  will  get  us  into  trouble." 

"  That's  very  likely,"  returned  Sikes  with  a  malicious 
grin.     "  You're  blowed  upon,  Fagin." 

"  And  I'm  afraid,  you  see,"  added  the  Jew,  speaking 
as  if  he  had  not  noticed  the  interruption ;  and  regarding 
the  other  closely  as  he  did  so,  —  "  I'm  afraid  that,  if  the 
game  was  up  with  us,  it  might  be  up  with  a  good  many 
more,  and  that  it  would  come  out  rather  worse  for  you 
than  it  would  for  me,  my  dear." 

The  man  started,  and  turned  round  upon  the  Jew. 
But  the  old  gentleman's  shoulders  were  shrugged  up  to 
his  ears ;  and  his  eyes  were  vacantly  staring  on  the 
opposite  wall. 

There  was  a  long  pause.  Every  member  of  the  re- 
spectable coterie  appeared  i^lunged  in  his  own  reflections; 
not  excepting  the  dog,  who  by  a  certain  malicious  licking 
of  his  lips  seemed  to  be  meditating  an  attack  upon  the 
legs  of  the  first  gentleman  or  lady  he  might  encounter  in 
the  streets  when  he  went  out. 

"  Somebody  must  find  out  wot's  been  done  at  the 
office,"  said  Mr.  Sikes  in  a  much  lower  tone  than  he  had 
taken  since  he  came  in. 

The  Jew  nodded  assent. 

"  If  he  hasn't  peached,  and  is  committed,  there's  no 
fear  till  he  comes  out  again,"  said  Mr.  Sikes,  "  and  then 
he  must  be  taken  care  on.  You  must  get  hold  of  him, 
somehow." 

Again  the  Jew  nodded. 

The  prudence  of  this  line  of  action,  indeed,  was 
obvious;  but,  unfortunately,  there  was  one  very  strong 
objection  to  its  being  adopted.  This  was,  that  the 
Dodger,  and  Charley  Bates,  and  Fagin,  and  Mr.  Wil- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  145 

liam  Sikes,  happened,  one  and  all,  to  entertain  a  violent 
and  deeply-rooted  antipathy  to  going  near  a  police-office, 
on  any  ground  or  pretext  whatever. 

How  long  they  might  have  sat  and  looked  at  each 
other,  in  a  state  of  uncertainty  not  the  most  pleasant  of 
its  kind,  it  is  difficult  to  guess.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
make  any  guesses  on  the  subject,  however  ;  for  the  sud- 
den entrance  of  the  two  young  ladies  whom  Oliver  had 
seen  on  a  former  occasion,  caused  the  conversation  to 
flow  afresh. 

"  The  very  thing  ! "  said  the  Jew.  "  Bet  will  go  ; 
won't  you,  my  dear  ? " 

"  Wheres  ?  "  inquired  the  young  lady. 

"  Only  just  up  to  the  office,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew 
coaxingly. 

It  is  due  to  the  young  lady  to  say  that  she  did  not  pos- 
itively affirm  that  she  would  not,  but  that  she  merely 
expressed  an  emphatic  and  earnest  desire  to  be  "blessed" 
if  she  would ;  a  polite  and  dehcate  evasion  of  the  request, 
which  shows  the  young  lady  to  have  been  possessed  of 
that  natural  good-breeding  which  cannot  bear  to  inflict 
upon  a  fellow-creature,  the  pain  of  a  direct  and  pointed 
refusal. 

The  Jew's  countenance  fell.  He  turned  from  this 
young  lady,  who  was  gayly,  not  to  say  gorgeously  attired, 
in  a  red  gown,  green  boots,  and  yellow  curl-papers,  to  the 
other  female. 

"  Nancy,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew  in  a  soothing  man- 
ner, "  what  do  you  say  ?  " 

"  That  it  won't  do !  so  it's  no  use  a-trying  it  on,  Fagin," 
replied  Nancy. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?  "  said  Mr.  Sikes,  look- 
ing up  in  a  surly  manner. 

VOL.  I.  10 


146  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  What  I  say,  Bill,"  replied  the  lady  collectedly. 

"  Why,  you're  just  the  very  person  for  it,"  reasoned 
Mr.  Sikes :  "  nobody  about  here  knows  anything  of  you." 

"  And  as  I  don't  want  'em  to,  neither,"  replied  Nancy 
in  the  same  composed  manner,  "  it's  rather  more  no  than 
yes  with  me,  Bill." 

"  She'll  go,  Fagin,"  said  Sikes. 

'*  No,  she  won't,  Fagin,"  said  Nancy. 

"  Yes  she  will,  Fagin,"  said  Sikes. 

And  Mr.  Sikes  was  right.  By  dint  of  alternate  threats, 
promises,  and  bribes,  the  lady  in  question  was  ultimately 
prevailed  upon  to  undertake  the  commission.  She  was 
not,  indeed,  withheld  by  the  same  considerations  as  her 
agreeable  friend  ;  for,  having  very  recently  removed  into 
the  neighborhood  of  Field-lane  from  the  remote  but  gen- 
teel suburb  of  Ratcliffe,  she  was  not  under  the  same 
apprehension  of  being  recognized  by  any  of  her  numer- 
ous acquaintance. 

Accordingly,  with  a  clean  white  apron  tied  over  her 
gown,  and  her  curl-papers  tucked  up  under  a  straw  bon- 
net, —  both  articles  of  dress  being  provided  from  the 
Jew's  inexhaustible  stock,  —  Miss  Nancy  prepared  to 
issue  forth  on  her  errand. 

"  Stop  a  minute,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew,  producing  a 
little  covered  basket.  "  Carry  that  in  one  hand.  It 
looks  more  respectable,  my  dear." 

"  Give  her  a  door-key  to  carry  in  her  t'other  one, 
Fagin,"  said  Sikes  ;  "  it  looks  real  and  genivine  like." 

"  Yes,  yes,  my  dear,  so  it  does,"  said  the  Jew,  hanging 
a  large  street-door  key  on  the  forefinger  of  the  young 
lady's  right  hand.  "  There  ;  very  good  !  Very  good 
indeed,  my  dear  ! "  said  the  Jew,  rubbing  his  hands. 

"  Oh,  my  brother !     My  poor,  dear,  sweet,  innocent 


OLIVER  TWIST.  147 

little  brother  ! "  exclaimed  Nancy,  bursting  into  tears, 
and  wringing  the  little  basket  and  the  street-door  key  in 
an  agony  of  distress.  "  What  has  become  of  him  ! 
Where  have  they  taken  him  to  !  Oh,  do  have  pity, 
and  tell  me  what's  been  done  with  the  dear  boy,  gentle- 
men ;  do,  gentlemen,  if  you  please,  gentlemen  ! " 

Having  uttered  these  words  in  a  most  lamentable  and 
heart-broken  tone  :  to  the  immeasurable  delight  of  her 
hearers  :  Miss  Nancy  paused,  winked  to  the  company, 
nodded  smilingly  round,  and  disappeared. 

"  Ah  !  she's  a  clever  girl,  my  dears,"  said  the  Jew, 
turning  round  to  his  young  friends,  and  shaking  his  head 
gravely,  as  if  in  mute  admonition  to  them  to  follow  the 
bright  example  they  had  just  beheld. 

"  She's  an  honor  to  her  sex,"  said  Mr.  Sikes  filling 
his  glass,  and  smiting  the  table  with  his  enormous  fist. 
"  Here's  her  health,  and  wishing  they  was  all  like  her  ! " 

While  these,  and  many  other  encomiums,  were  being 
passed  on  the  accomplished  Nancy,  that  young  lady  made 
the  best  of  her  way  to  the  police-office  ;  whither,  notwith- 
standing a  little  natural  timidity  consequent  upon  walking 
through  the  streets  alone  and  unprotected,  she  arrived  in 
perfect  safety  shortly  afterwards. 

Entering  by  the  back  way,  she  tapped  softly  with  the 
key  at  one  of  the  cell-doors,  and  listened.  There  was  no 
sound  within  :  so  she  coughed  and  listened  again.  Still 
there  was  no  reply  :  so  she  spoke. 

"  Nolly,  dear  ?  "  murmured  Nancy  in  a  gentle  voice  ; 
«  Nolly  ?  " 

There  was  nobody  inside  but  a  miserable  shoeless  crim- 
inal, who  had  been  taken  up  for  playing  the  flute,  and 
who,  the  offence  against  society  having  been  clearly 
proved,  had  been  very  properly  committed  by  Mr.  Fang 


148  OLIVER  TWIST. 

to  the  House  of  Correction  for  one  month ;  with  the 
appropriate  and  amusing  remark,  that  since  he  had  so 
much  breath  to  spare,  it  would  be  more  wholesomely 
expended  on  the  treadmill  than  in  a  musical  instrument. 
He  made  no  answer :  being  occupied  in  mentally  bewail- 
ing the  loss  of  the  flute,  which  had  been  confiscated  for 
the  use  of  the  county ;  so  Nancy  passed  on  to  the  next 
cell,  and  knocked  there. 

"  Well ! "  cried  a  faint  and  feeble  voice. 

"  Is  there  a  little  boy  here  ?  "  inquired  Nancy,  with  a 
preliminary  sob. 

"  No,"  replied  the  voice  ;  "  God  forbid  ! " 

This  was  a  vagrant  of  sixty-five,  who  was  going  to 
prison  for  not  playing  the  flute ;  or,  in  other  words,  for 
begging  in  the  streets,  and  doing  nothing  for  his  liveli- 
hood. In  the  next  cell,  was  another  man,  who  was  going 
to  the  same  prison  for  hawking  tin  saucepans  without  a 
license ;  thereby  doing  something  for  his  living,  in  defiance 
of  the  Stamp-ofiice. 

But,  as  neither  of  these  criminals  answered  to  the 
name  of  Oliver,  or  knew  anything  about  him,  Nancy 
made  straight  up  to  the  bluff  officer  in  the  striped  waist- 
coat ;  and  with  the  most  piteous  wailings  and  lamenta- 
tions, rendered  more  piteous  by  a  prompt  and  efficient 
use  of  the  street-door  key  and  the  little  basket,  demanded 
her  own  dear  brother. 

"  /  haven't  got  him,  my  dear,"  said  the  old  man. 

"  Where  is  he  ?  "  screamed  Nancy,  in  a  distracted  man- 
ner. 

"  Why,  the  gentleman's  got  him,"  replied  the  officer. 

"  What  gentleman  ?  Oh,  gracious  heavens !  what  gen- 
tleman ?  "  exclaimed  Nancy. 

In  reply  to  this  incoherent  questioning,  the  old  man 


OLIVER  TWIST.  149 

informed  the  deeply  affected  sister  that  Oliver  had  been 
taken  ill  in  the  office,  and  discharged  in  consequence  of 
a  witness  having  proved  the  robbery  to  have  been  com- 
mitted by  another  boy,  not  in  custody  ;  and  that  the  pros- 
ecutor had  carried  him  away,  in  an  insensible  condition, 
to  his  own  residence  :  of  and  concerning  which,  all  the 
informant  knew  was,  that  it  was  somewhere  at  Penton- 
ville,  he  having  heard  that  word  mentioned  in  the  direc- 
tions to  the  coachman. 

In  a  dreadful  state  of  doubt  and  uncertainty,  the  ago- 
nized young  woman  staggered  to  the  gate,  and  then,  ex- 
changing her  faltering  walk  for  a  good,  swift,  steady  run, 
returned  by  the  most  devious  and  complicated  route  she 
could  think  of,  to  the  domicile  of  the  Jew. 

Mr.  Bill  Sikes  no  sooner  heard  the  account  of  the 
expedition  delivered,  than  he  very  hastily  called  up  the 
white  dog,  and,  putting  on  his  hat,  expeditiously  de- 
parted :  without  devoting  any  time  to  the  formality  of 
wishing  the  company  good-morning. 

"  We  must  know  where  he  is,  my  dears  ;  he  must  be 
found,"  said  the  Jew,  greatly  excited.  "  Charley,  do 
nothing  but  skulk  about,  till  you  bring  home  some  news 
of  him  !  Nancy,  my  dear,  I  must  have  him  found.  I 
trust  to  you,  my  dear,  —  to  you  and  the  Artful  for  every- 
thing !  Stay,  stay,"  added  the  Jew,  unlocking  a  drawer 
with  a  shaking  hand ;  "  there's  money,  my  dears.  I 
shall  shut  up  this  shop  to-night.  You'll  know  where  to 
find  me  !  Don't  stop  here  a  minute.  Not  an  instant, 
my  dears  ! " 

With  these  words,  he  pushed  them  from  the  room; 
and  carefully  double-locking  and  barring  the  door  behind 
them,  drew  from  its  place  of  concealment  the  box  which 
he  had  unintentionally  disclosed  to  Oliver.     Then,  he 


150  OLIVER  TWIST. 

hastily  proceeded  to  dispose  the  watches  and  jewelry 
beneath  his  clothing. 

A  rap  at  the  door,  startled  him  in  this  occupation. 
"  Who's  there  ? "   he  cried  in  a  shrill  tone. 

"  Me ! "  replied  the  voice  of  the  Dodger,  through  the 
keyhole. 

"  What  now  ?  "  cried  the  Jew  impatiently. 

"  Is  he  to  be  kidnapped  to  the  other  ken,  Nancy  says  ?  " 
inquired  the  Dodger. 

*'  Yes,"  replied  the  Jew,  "  wherever  she  lays  hands  on 
him.  Find  him,  find  him  out,  that's  all !  I  shall  know 
what  to  do  next;  never  fear." 

The  boy  murmured  a  reply  of  intelligence  ;  and  hur- 
ried down-stairs  after  his  companions. 

"  He  has  not  peached  so  far,"  said  the  Jew  as  he  pur- 
sued his  occupation.  "  If  he  means  to  blab  us  among  his 
new  friends,  we  may  stop  his  mouth  yet." 


OLIVER  TWIST.  151 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

COMPEISrS'G  FURTHER  PARTICULARS  OF  OLIVER'S  STAY 
AT  MR.  BROWNLOVS,  WITH  THE  REMARKABLE  PRE- 
DICTION WHICH  ONE  MR.  GRIMWIG  UTTERED  CON- 
CERNING HIM,  WHEN   HE  WENT    OUT  ON   AN   ERRAND. 

Oliver  soon  recovering  from  the  fainting-fit  into 
which  Mr.  Brownlow's  abrupt  exclamation  had  thrown 
him,  the  subject  of  the  picture  was  carefully  avoided, 
both  by  the  old  gentleman  and  Mrs.  Bedwin,  in  the 
conversation  that  ensued :  which  indeed  bore  no  refer- 
ence to  Oliver's  history  or  prospects,  but  was  confined 
to  such  topics  as  might  amuse  without  exciting  him.  He 
was  still  too  weak  to  get  up  to  breakfast ;  but,  when  he 
came  down  into  the  housekeeper's  room  next  day,  his 
first  act  was  to  cast  an  eager  glance  at  the  wall,  in  the 
hope  of  again  looking  on  the  face  of  the  beautiful  lady. 
His  expectations  were  disappointed,  however,  for  the  pic- 
ture had  been  removed. 

"  Ah  ! "  said  the  housekeeper,  watching  the  direction 
of  Oliver's  eyes.     "  It  is  gone,  you  see." 

"  I  see  it  is,  ma'am,"  replied  Oliver.  "  Why  have 
they  taken  it  away  ?  " 

"  It  has  been  taken  down,  child,  because  Mr.  Brown- 
low  said,  that  as  it  seemed  to  worry  you,  perhaps  it 
might  prevent  your  getting  well,  you  know,"  rejoined 
the  old  lady. 


152  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Oh,  no,  indeed.  It  didn't  worry  me,  ma'am,"  said 
Oliver.     "  I  liked  to  see  it.     I  quite  loved  it." 

"  Well,  well ! "  said  the  old  lady,  good-humoredly  ; 
"  you  get  well  as  fast  as  ever  you  can,  dear,  and  it  shall 
be  hung  up  again.  There  !  I  promise  you  that !  Now, 
let  us  talk  about  something  else." 

This  was  all  the  information  Oliver  could  obtain  about 
the  picture  at  that  time.  As  the  old  lady  had  been  so 
kind  to  him  in  his  illness,  he  endeavored  to  think  no 
more  of  the  subject  just  then ;  so  he  listened  at- 
tentively, to  a  great  many  stories  she  told  him,  about 
an  amiable  and  handsome  daughter  of  hers,  who  was 
married  to  an  amiable  and  handsome  man,  and  lived 
in  the  country ;  and  about  a  son,  who  was  clerk  to  a 
merchant  in  the  West  Indies  ;  and  who  was,  also,  such 
a  good  young  man,  and  wrote  such  dutiful  letters  home 
four  times  a-year,  that  it  brought  the  tears  into  her 
eyes,  to  talk  about  them.  When  the  old  lady  had  ex- 
patiated, a  long  time,  on  the  excellences  of  her  children, 
and  the  merits  of  her  kind,  good  husband  besides,  who 
had  been  dead  and  gone,  poor  dear  soul !  just  six-and- 
twenty  years,  it  was  time  to  have  tea.  After  tea  she 
began  to  teaph  Oliver  cribbage :  which  he  learnt  as 
quickly  as  she  could  teach :  and  at  which  game  they 
played,  with  great  interest  and  gravity,  until  it  was 
time  for  the  invalid  to  have  some  warm  wine  and 
water,  with  a  slice  of  dry  toast,  and  then  to  go  coseyly 
to  bed. 

They  were  happy  days,  those  of  Oliver's  recovery. 
Everything  was  so  quiet,  and  neat,  and  orderly  ;  every- 
body so  kind  and  gentle ;  that  after  the  noise  and  tur- 
bulence in  the  midst  of  which  he  had  always  lived,  it 
seemed  like  Heaven  itself.     He  was  no  sooner  strong 


OLIVER  TWIST.  153 

enough  to  put  his  clothes  on,  properly,  than  Mr.  Brown- 
low  caused  a  complete  new  suit,  and  a  new  cap,  and  a 
new  pair  of  shoes,  to  be  provided  for  him.  As  Oliver 
was  told  that  he  might  do  what  he  liked  with  the  old 
clothes,  he  gave  them  to  a  servant  who  had  been  very- 
kind  to  him,  and  asked  her  to  sell  them  to  a  Jew,  and 
keep  the  money  for  herself.  This  she  very  readily  did ; 
and,  as  Oliver  looked  out  of  the  parlor  window,  and  saw 
the  Jew  roll  them  up  in  his  bag  and  walk  away,  he  felt 
quite  dehghted  to  think  that  they  were  safely  gone,  and 
that  there  was  now  no  possible  danger  of  his  ever  being 
able  to  wear  them  again.  They  were  sad  rags,  to  tell 
the  truth ;  and  Oliver  had  never  had  a  new  suit  be- 
fore. 

One  evening,  about  a  week  after  the  affair  of  the  pic- 
ture, as  he  was  sitting  talking  to  Mrs.  Bedwin,  there  came 
a  message  down  from  Mr.  Brownlow,  that  if  Oliver  Twist 
felt  pretty  well,  he  should  like  to  see  him  in  his  study,  and 
talk  to  him  a  little  while. 

"  Bless  us,  and  save  us  !  Wash  your  hands,  and  let 
me  part  your  hair  nicely  for  you,  child,"  said  Mrs.  Bed- 
win.  "  Dear  heart  alive  !  If  we  had  known  he  would 
have  asked  for  you,  we  would  have  put  you  a  clean  col- 
lar on,  and  made  you  as  smart  as  sixpence  !  " 

Oliver  did  as  the  old  lady  bade  him ;  and,  although 
she  lamented  grievously,  meanwhile,  that  there  was  not 
even  time  to  crimp  the  little  frill  that  bordered  his  shirt- 
collar  ;  he  looked  so  delicate  and  handsome,  despite  that 
important  personal  advantage,  that  she  went  so  far  as  to 
say :  looking  at  him  with  great  complacency  from  head 
to  foot :  that  she  really  didn't  think  it  would  have  been 
possible,  on  the  longest  notice,  to  have  made  much  differ- 
ence in  him  for  the  better. 


J.54  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Thus  encouraged,  Oliver  tapped  at  the  study  door. 
On  Mr.  Brownlow  calling  to  him  to  come  in,  he  found 
himself  in  a  little  back  room,  quite  full  of  books :  with  a 
window,  looking  into  some  pleasant  little  gardens.  There 
was  a  table  drawn  up  before  the  window,  at  which  Mr. 
Brownlow  was  seated  reading.  When  he  saw  Oliver, 
he  pushed  the  book  away  from  him,  and  told  him  to 
come  near  the  table,  and  sit  down.  Oliver  complied ; 
marvelling  where  the  people  could  be  found  to  read 
such  a  great  number  of  books  as  seemed  to  be  written 
to  make  the  world  wiser.  Which  is  still  a  marvel  to 
more  experienced  people  than  Oliver  Twist,  every  day 
of  their  lives. 

"  There  are  a  good  many  books,  are  there  not,  my 
boy  ?  "  said  Mr.  Brownlow  :  observing  the  curiosity  with 
which  Oliver  surveyed  the  shelves  that  reached  from  the 
floor  to  the  ceiling. 

''  A  great  number,  sir,"  replied  Oliver.  "  I  never  saw 
so  many." 

"  You  shall  read  them,  if  you  behave  well,"  said  the 
old  gentleman  kindly ;  "  and  you  will  like  that,  better 
than  looking  at  the  outsides,  —  that  is,  in  some  cases ; 
because  there  are  books  of  which  the  backs  and  covers 
are  by  far  the  best  parts." 

"  I  suppose  they  are  those  heavy  ones,  sir,"  said 
Oliver,  pointing  to  some  large  quartos,  with  a  good  deal 
of  gilding  about  the  binding. 

"  Not  always  those,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  patting 
Oliver  on  the  head,  and  smiling  as  he  did  so ;  "  there  are 
other  equally  heavy  ones,  though  of  a  much  smaller  size. 
How  should  you  hke  to  grow  up  a  clever  man,  and  write 
books,  eh?" 

"  I  think  I  would  rather  read  them,  sir,"  replied  OHver. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  155 

"  What !  wouldn't  you  like  to  be  a  book-writer  ?  "  said 
the  old  gentleman. 

Oliver  considered  a  little  while ;  and  at  last  said,  he 
should  think  it  would  be  a  much  better  thing  to  be 
a  bookseller ;  upon  which  the  old  gentleman  laughed 
heartily,  and  declared  he  had  said  a  very  good  thing. 
Which  Oliver  felt  glad  to  have  done,  though  he  by  no 
means  knew  what  it  was. 

"Well,  well,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  composing  his 
features.  "  Don't  be  afraid  !  We  won't  make  an  author 
of  you,  while  there's  an  honest  trade  to  be  learnt,  or 
brick-making  to  turn  to." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  said  Oliver.  At  the  earnest  man- 
ner of  his  reply,  the  old  gentleman  laughed  again ;  and 
said  something  about  a  curious  instinct,  which  Oliver, 
not  understanding,  paid  no  very  great  attention  to. 

"  Now,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  speaking  if  possible  in  a 
kinder,  but  at  the  same  time  in  a  much  more  serious 
maiyier,  than  Oliver  had  ever  known  him  assume  yet, 
"  I  want  you  to  pay  great  attention,  my  boy,  to  what  I 
am  going  to  say.  I  shall  talk  to  you  without  any  re- 
serve ;  because  I  am  sure  you  are  as  well  able  to  under- 
stand me,  as  many  older  persons  would  be." 

"  Oh,  don't  tell  me  you  are  going  to  send  me  away, 
sir,  pray ! "  exclaimed  Oliver,  alarmed  at  the  serious 
tone  of  the  old  gentleman's  commencement !  "  Don't 
turn  me  out  of  doors  to  wander  in  the  streets  again. 
Let  me  stay  here,  and  be  a  servant.  Don't  send  me 
back  to  the  wretched  place  I  came  from.  Have  mercy 
upon  a  poor  boy,  sir  !  " 

"  My  dear  child,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  moved  by 
the  warmth  of  Oliver's  sudden  appeal ;  "  you  need  not 
be  afraid  of  my  deserting  you,  unless  you  give  me  cause." 


156  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  I  never,  never  will,  sir,"  interposed  Oliver. 

"  I  hope  not,"  rejoined  the  old  gentleman.  "  I  do  not 
think  you  ever  will.  I  have  been  deceived,  before,  in 
the  objects  whom  I  have  endeavored  to  benefit;  but  I 
feel  strongly  disposed  to  trust  you,  nevertheless ;  and  I 
am  more  interested  in  your  behalf  than  I  can  well  ac- 
count for,  even  to  myself.  The  persons  on  whom  I  have 
bestowed  my  dearest  love,  lie  deep  in  their  graves ;  but, 
although  the  happiness  and  delight  of  my  life  lie  buried 
there  too,  I  have  not  made  a  coffin  of  my  heart,  and 
sealed  it  up,  forever,  on  my  best  affections.  Deep  af- 
fliction has  but  strengthened  and  refined  them." 

As  the  old  gentleman  said  this  in  a  low  voice :  more 
to  himself  than  to  his  companion :  and  as  he  remained 
silent  for  a  short  time  afterwards :  Oliver  sat  quite  still. 

"  Well,  well ! "  said  the  old  gentleman  at  length,  in  a 
more  cheerful  tone,  "  I  only  say  this,  because  you  have  a 
young  heart ;  and  knowing  that  I  have  suffered  great 
pain  and  sorrow,  you  will  be  more  careful,  perhaps,  not 
to  wound  me  again.  You  say  you  are  an  orphan,  with- 
out a  friend  in  the  world ;  all  the  inquiries  I  have  been 
able  to  make,  confirm  the  statement.  Let  me  hear  your 
story ;  where  you  came  from ;  who  brought  you  up ; 
and  how  you  got  into  the  company  in  which  I  found  you. 
Speak  the  truth ;  and  you  shall  not  be  friendless  while  I 
live." 

Oliver's  sobs  checked  his  utterance  for  some  minutes ; 
when  he  was  on  the  point  of  beginning  to  relate  how  he 
had  been  brought  up  at  the  farm,  and  carried  to  the 
workhouse  by  Mr.  Bumble,  a  peculiarly  impatient  little 
double-knock  was  heard  at  the  street  door ;  and  the  ser- 
vant, running  up-stairs,  announced  Mr.  Grimwig. 

"  Is  he  coming  up  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Brownlow. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  157 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  servant.  "  He  asked  if  there 
were  any  muflans  in  the  house  ;  and,  when  I  told  him 
yes,  he  said  he  had  come  to  tea." 

Mr.  Brownlow  smiled ;  and,  turning  to  Oliver,  said 
that  Mr.  Grimwig  was  an  old  friend  of  his,  and  he  must 
not  mind  his  being  a  little  rough  in  his  manners ;  for  he 
was  a  worthy  creature  at  bottom,  as  he  had  reason  to 
know. 

"  Shall  I  go  down-stairs,  sir  ?  "  inquired  Oliver. 

"  No,"  replied  Mr.  Brownlow,  "  I  would  rather  you 
remained  here." 

At  this  moment,  there  walked  into  the  room :  supporting 
himself  by  a  thick  stick :  a  stout  old  gentleman,  rather 
lame  in  one  leg,  who  was  dressed  in  a  blue  coat,  striped 
waistcoat,  nankeen  breeches  and  gaiters,  and  a  broad- 
brimmed  white  hat,  with  the  sides  turned  up  with  green. 
A  very  small-plaited  shirt-frill  stuck  out  from  his  waist- 
coat ;  and  a  very  long  steel  watch-chain,  with  nothing  but 
a  key  at  the  end,  dangled  loosely  below  it.  The  ends  of 
his  white  neckerchief  Avere  twisted  into  a  ball  about  the 
size  of  an  orange ;  the  variety  of  shapes  into  which  his 
countenance  was  twisted,  defy  description.  He  had  a 
manner  of  screwing  his  head  on  one  side  when  he  spoke : 
and  of  looking  out  of  the  corners  of  his  eyes  at  the  same 
time :  which  irresistibly  reminded  the  beholder  of  a 
parrot.  In  this  attitude,  he  fixed  himself,  the  moment 
he  made  his  appearance ;  and,  holding  out  a  small  piece 
of  orange-peel  at  arm's  length,  exclaimed,  in  a  growling, 
discontented  voice, 

"  Look  here  !  do  you  see  this  !  Isn't  it  a  most  won- 
derful and  extraordinary  thing  that  I  can't  call  at  a  man's 
house  but  I  find  a  piece  of  this  poor  surgeon's-friend  on 
the  staircase  ?     I've  been  lamed  with  orange-peel  once, 


158  OLIVER  TWIST. 

and  I  know  orange-peel  will  be  my  death  at  last.  It 
will,  sir ;  orange-peel  will  be  my  death,  or  I'll  be  eon- 
tent  to  eat  my  own  head,  sir ! " 

This  was  the  handsome  offer  with  which  Mr.  Grimwig 
backed  and  confirmed  nearly  every  assertion  he  made ; 
and  it  was  the  more  singular  in  his  case,  because,  even 
admitting  for  the  sake  of  argument,  the  possibility  of 
scientific  improvements  being  ever  brought  to  that  pass, 
which  will  enable  a  gentleman  to  eat  his  own  head  in 
the  event  of  his  being  so  disposed ;  Mr.  Grimwig's  head 
was  such  a  particularly  large  one,  that  the  most  sanguine 
man  alive  could  hardly  entertain  a  hope  of  being  able  to 
get  through  it  at  a  sitting  —  to  put  entirely  out  of  the 
question,  a  very  thick  coating  of  powder. 

"  I'll  eat  my  head,  sir,"  repeated  Mr.  Grimwig,  striking 
his  stick  upon  the  ground.  "  Hallo ;  what's  that !  "  look- 
ing at  Oliver,  and  retreating  a  pace  or  two. 

"  This  is  young  Oliver  Twist,  whom  we  were  speaking 
about,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow. 

Oliver  bowed. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  that's  the  boy  who  had  the 
fever,  I  hope  ? "  said  Mr.  Grimwig,  recoiling  a  little 
more.  "  Wait  a  minute  !  Don't  speak !  Stop  "  —  con- 
tinued Mr.  Grimwig,  abruptly,  losing  all  dread  of  the 
fever  in  his  triumph  at  the  discovery ;  "  that's  the  boy 
who  had  the  orange !  If  that's  not  the  boy,  sir,  who  had 
the  orange,  and  threw  this  bit  of  peel  upon  the  staircase, 
I'll  eat  my  head,  and  his  too." 

"  No,  no,  he  has  not  had  one,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow, 
laughing.  "  Come  !  Put  down  your  hat ;  and  speak  to 
my  young  friend." 

""  I  feel  strongly  on  this  subject,  sir,"  said  the  irritable 
old  gentleman,  drawing  off  his  gloves.     "  There's  always 


OLIVER  TWIST.  159 

more  or  less  orange-peel  on  the  pavement  in  our  street ; 
and  I  hiow  it's  put  there  by  the  surgeon's  boy  at  the 
corner.  A  young  woman  stumbled  over  a  bit  last  night, 
and  fell  against  my  garden-railings ;  directly  she  got  up 
I  saw  her  look  towards  his  infernal  red  lamp  with  the 
pantomime-light.  '  Don't  go  to  him,'  I  called  out  of  the 
window,  '  he's  an  assassin !    A  man-trap ! '    So  he  is.     If 

he  is  not " Here  the  irascible  old  gentleman  gave 

a  great  knock  on  the  ground  with  his  stick ;  which  was 
always  understood,  by  his  friends,  to  imply  the  customary 
offer,  whenever  it  was  not  expressed  in  words.  Then,  still 
keeping  his  stick  in  his  hand,  he  sat  down ;  and,  opening 
a  double  eye-glass,  which  he  wore  attached  to  a  broad 
black  ribbon,  took  a  view  of  Oliver :  who,  seeing  that  he 
was  the  object  of  inspection,  colored,  and  bowed  again. 

"  That's  the  boy,  is  it  ?  "  said  Mr.  Grimwig,  at  length. 

"  That  is  the  boy,"  replied  Mr.  Brownlow. 

"  How  are  you,  boy  ?  "  said  Mr.  Grimwig. 

"A  great  deal  better,  thank  you,  sir,"  replied  Oliver. 

Mr.  Brownlow,  seeming  to  apprehend  that  his  singular 
friend  was  about  to  say  something  disagreeable,  asked 
Oliver  to  step  down-stairs  and  tell  Mrs.  Bedwin  they 
were  ready  for  tea ;  which,  as  he  did  not  half  like  the 
visitor's  manner,  he  was  very  happy  to  do. 

"  He  is  a  nice-looking  boy,  is  he  not  ?  "  inquired  Mr. 
Brownlow. 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Mr.  Grimwig,  pettishly. 

"  Don't  know  ?  " 

"  No.  I  don't  know.  I  never  see  any  difference  in 
boys.  I  only  know  two  sorts  of  boys.  Mealy  boys,  and 
beef-faced  boys." 

"  And  which  is  Oliver  ?  " 

"  Mealy.     I  know  a  friend  who  has  a  beef-faced  boy  ; 


160  OLIVER  TWIST. 

a  fine  boy,  they  call  liim ;  with  a  round  head,  and  red 
cheeks,  and  glaring  eyes :  a  horrid  boy ;  with  a  body 
and  limbs  that  appear  to  be  swelling  out  of  the  seams  of 
his  blue  clothes  ;  with  the  voice  of  a  pilot,  and  the  appe- 
tite of  a  wolf.     I  know  him  !     The  wretch  !  " 

"  Come,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  "  these  are  not  the  char- 
acteristics of  young  Oliver  Twist ;  so  he  needn't  excite 
your  wrath." 

^'They  are  not,"  replied  Mr.  Grimwig.  "He  may 
have  worse." 

Here,  Mr.  Brownlow  coughed  impatiently ;  which  ap- 
peared to  afford  Mr.  Grimwig  the  most  exquisite  delight. 

"  He  may  have  worse,  I  say,"  repeated  Mr.  Grimwig. 
"  Where  does  he  come  from  ?  Who  is  he  ?  What  is 
he  ?  He  has  had  a  fever.  What  of  that  ?  Fevers  are 
not  peculiar  to  good  people ;  are  they  ?  Bad  people 
have  fevers  sometimes ;  haven't  they,  eh  ?  I  knew  a 
man  who  was  hung  in  Jamaica  for  murdering  his  master. 
He  had  had  a  fever  six  times ;  he  wasn't  recommended 
to  mercy  on  that  account.     Pooh !  nonsense  ! " 

Now,  the  fact  was,  that,  in  the  inmost  recesses  of  his 
own  heart,  Mr.  Grimwig  was  strongly  disposed  to  admit 
that  Oliver's  appearance  and  manner  were  unusually 
prepossessing ;  but  he  had  a  strong  appetite  for  contra- 
diction :  sharpened  on  this  occasion  by  the  finding  of 
the  orange-peel ;  and  inwardly  determining  that  no  man 
should  dictate  to  him  whether  a  boy  was  well-looking 
or  not,  he  had  resolved,  from  the  first,  to  oppose  his 
friend.  When  Mr.  Brownlow  admitted  that  on  no  one 
point  of  inquiry  could  he  yet  return  a  satisfactory  an- 
swer ;  and  that  he  had  postponed  any  investigation  into 
Oliver's  previous  history  until  he  thought  the  boy  was 
strong  enough  to  bear  it;  Mr.  Grimwig  chuckled  ma- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  161 

liciouslj.  And  he  demanded,  with  a  sneer,  whether  the 
housekeeper  was  in  the  habit  of  counting  the  plate  at 
night ;  because,  if  she  didn't  find  a  table-spoon  or  two 
missing  some  sunshiny  morning,  why,  he  would  be  con- 
tent to  —  and  so  forth. 

All  this,  Mr.  Brownlow,  although  himself  somewhat 
of  an  impetuous  gentleman  :  knowing  his  friend's  pecu- 
Harities  :  bore  with  great  good-humor  ;  as  Mr.  Grimwig, 
at  tea,  was  graciously  pleased  to  express  his  entire  ap- 
proval of  the  muffins,  matters  went  on  very  smoothly ; 
and  Oliver,  who  made  one  of  the  party,  began  to  feel 
more  at  his  ease  than  he  had  yet  done  in  the  fierce  old 
gentleman's  presence. 

"  And  when  are  you  going  to  hear  a  full,  true,  and 
particular  account  of  the  life  and  adventures  of  Oliver 
Twist  ? "  asked  Grimwig  of  Mr.  Brownlow,  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  meal :  looking  sideways  at  Oliver,  as  he 
resumed  the  subject. 

"  To-morrow  morning,"  replied  Mr.  Brownlow.  "  I 
would  rather  he  was  alone  with  me  at  the  time.  Come 
up  to  me  to-morrow  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  my  dear." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  Oliver.  He  answered  with  some 
hesitation,  because  he  was  confused  by  Mr.  Grimwig's 
looking  so  hard  at  him. 

"  ril  tell  you  what,"  whispered  that  gentleman  to  Mr. 
Brownlow  ;  "  he  won't  come  up  to  you  to-morrow  morn- 
ing. I  saw  him  hesitate.  He  is  deceiving  you,  my 
good  friend. 

"  I'll  swear  he  is  not,"  replied  Mr.  Brownlow,  warmly. 

"  If  he  is  not,"  said  Mr.  Grimwig,  "  I'll " and 

down  went  the  stick. 

"  I'll  answer  for  that  boy's  truth  with  my  hfe  ! "  said 
Mr.  Brownlow,  knocking  the  table. 

VOL.  I.  11 


162  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  And  I  for  his  falsehood  with  my  head ! "  rejoined 
Mr.  Grimwig,  knocking  the  table  also. 

"  We  shall  see,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  checking  his  ris- 
ing anger. 

"  We  will,"  replied  Mr.  Grimwig,  with  a  provoking 
smile  ;  "  we  will." 

As  fate  would  have  it,  Mrs.  Bed  win  chanced  to  bring 
in,  at  this  moment,  a  small  parcel  of  books :  which  Mr. 
Brownlow  had  that  morning  purchased  of  the  identical 
bookstall-keeper,  who  has  abeady  figured  in  this  his- 
tory ;  having  laid  them  on  the  table,  she  prepared  to 
leave  the  room. 

"  Stop  the  boy,  INIi's.  Bedwin  !  "  said  Mr.  Brownlow  ; 
"  there  is  something  to  go  back." 

"  He  has  gone,  sir,"  replied  Mrs.  Bedwin. 

"  Call  after  him,"  said  JNIr.  Brownlow  ;  "  it's  particular. 
He  is  a  poor  man,  and  they  are  not  paid  for.  There 
are  some  books  to  be  taken  back,  too." 

The  street-door  was  opened.  Oliver  ran  one  way ; 
and  the  girl  ran  another ;  and  Mrs.  Bedwin  stood  on 
the  step  and  screamed  for  the  boy ;  but  there  was  no 
boy  in  sight.  Oliver  and  the  girl  returned,  in  a 
breathless  state,  to  report  that  there  were  no  tidings 
of  him. 

"  Dear  me,  I  am  very  sorry  for  that,"  exclaimed 
Mr.  Brownlow ;  "  I  particularly  wished  those  books  to 
be  returned  to-night." 

"  Send  Oliver  with  them,"  said  Mr.  Grimwig,  with  an 
ironical  smile  ;  "  he  will  be  sure  to  deliver  them  safely, 
you  know." 

"  Yes ;  do  let  me  take  them,  if  you  please,  sir,"  said 
Oliver.     "I'll  run  all  the  way,  sir." 

The  old  gentleman  was  just  going  to  say  that  OHver 


OLIVER  TWIST.  163 

should  not  go  out  on  any  account ;  when  a  most  malicious 
cough  from  Mr.  Grimwig  determined  him  that  he  should ; 
and  that,  by  his  prompt  discharge  of  the  commission,  he 
should  prove  to  him  the  injustice  of  his  suspicions  :  on 
this  head  at  least :  at  once. 

"  You  shall  go,  my  dear,"  said  the  old  gentleman. 
"  The  books  are  on  a  chair  by  my  table.  Fetch  them 
down." 

Oliver,  delighted  to  be  of  use,  brought  down  the  books 
under  his  arm  in  a  great  bustle ;  and  waited,  cap  in  hand, 
to  hear  what  message  he  was  to  take. 

"  You  are  to  say,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  glancing  stead- 
ily at  Grimwig ;  you  are  to  say  that  you  have  brought 
those  books  back ;  and  that  you  have  come  to  pay  the 
four  pound  ten  I  owe  him.  This  is  a  five-pound  note, 
so  you  will  have  to  bring  me  back  ten  shillings  change." 

"  I  won't  be  ten  minutes,  sir,"  replied  Oliver,  eagerly. 
Having  buttoned  up  the  bank-note  in  his  jacket-pocket, 
and  placed  the  books  carefully  under  his  arm,  he  made 
a  respectful  bow,  and  left  the  room.  Mrs.  Bedwin  fol- 
lowed him  to  the  street-door,  giving  him  many  directions 
about  the  nearest  way,  and  the  name  of  the  bookseller, 
and  the  name  of  the  street :  all  of  which  Oliver  said  he 
clearly  understood;  and,  having  superadded  many  injunc- 
tions to  be  sure  and  not  take  cold,  the  old  lady  at  length 
permitted  him  to  depart. 

"  Bless  his  sweet  face  ! "  said  the  old  lady,  looking 
after  him.  "I  can't  bear,  somehow,  to  let  him  go  out 
of  my  sight." 

At  this  moment,  Oliver  looked  gayly  round,  and  nodded 
before  he  turned  the  corner.  The  old  lady  smilingly  re- 
turned his  salutation,  and,  closing  the  door,  went  back  to 
her  own  room. 


164  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Let  me  see  ;  he'll  be  back  in  twenty  minutes,  at  the 
longest/'  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  pulling  out  his  watch,  and 
placing  it  on  the  table.     "  It  will  be  dark  by  that  time." 

"  Oh  !  you  really  expect  him  to  come  back,  do  you  ?  " 
inquired  Mr.  Grimwig. 

"  Don't  you  ?  "  asked  Mr.  Brownlow,  smiling. 

The  spirit  of  contradiction  was  strong  in  Mr.  Grim- 
wig's  breast,  at  the  moment ;  and  it  was  rendered  stronger 
by  his  friend's  confident  smile. 

"  No,"  he  said,  smiting  the  table  with  his  fist,  "  I  do 
not.  The  boy  has  a  new  suit  of  clothes  on  his  back ;  a 
set  of  valuable  books  under  his  arm ;  and  a  five-pound 
note  in  his  pocket.  He'll  join  his  old  friends  the  thieves, 
and  laugh  at  you.  If  ever  that  boy  returns  to  this  house, 
sir,  I'll  eat  my  head." 

With  these  words,  he  drew  his  chair  closer  to  the  table ; 
and  there  the  two  friends  sat,  in  silent  expectation,  with 
the  watch  between  them. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  :  as  illustrating  the  importance 
we  attach  to  our  own  judgments,  and  the  pride  with 
which  we  put  forth  our  most  rash  and  hasty  conclusions  : 
that,  although  Mr.  Grimwig  was  not  by  any  means  a 
bad-hearted  man  ;  and  though  he  would  have  been  un- 
feignedly  sorry  to  see  his  respected  friend  duped  and 
deceived ;  he  really  did,  most  earnestly  and  strongly, 
hope,  at  that  moment,  that  Oliver  Twist  might  not  come 
back. 

It  grew  so  dark,  that  the  figures  on  the  dial-plate 
were  scarcely  discernible;  but  there  the  two  old  gentle- 
men continued  to  sit,  in  silence  :  with  the  watch  between 
them. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  165 


CHAPTER  XV. 

SHOWING    HOW   VERY    FOND    OF    OLIVER    TWIST,    THE 
3IERRT    OLD    JEW   AND    MISS    NANCY    WERE. 

In  the  obscure  parlor  of  a  low  public-house,  situate 
in  the  filthiest  part  of  Little  Saffron-hill ;  a  dark  and 
gloomy  den,  where  a  flaring  gas-light  burnt  all  day  in 
the  winter-time  :  and  where  no  ray  of  sun  ever  shone  in 
the  summer ;  there  sat :  brooding  over  a  little  pewter 
measure  and  a  small  glass,  strongly  impregnated  with 
the  smell  of  liquor :  a  man  in  a  velveteen  coat,  drab 
shorts,  half-boots  and  stockings,  whom,  even  by  that 
dim  light,  no  experienced  agent  of  police  would  have 
hesitated  for  one  instant  to  recognize  as  Mr.  William 
Sikes.  At  his  feet,  sat  a  white-coated,  red-eyed  dog ; 
who  occupied  himself,  alternately,  in  winking  at  his 
master  with  both  eyes  at  the  same  time ;  and  in  licking 
a  large,  fresh  cut  on  one  side  of  his  mouth,  which 
appeared  to  be  the  result  of  some  recent  conflict. 

"  Keep  quiet,  you  warmint !  keep  quiet ! "  said  Mr. 
Sikes,  suddenly  breaking  silence.  Whether  his  medi- 
tations were  so  intense  as  to  be  disturbed  by  the  dog's 
winking,  or  whether  his  feelings  were  so  wrought  upon 
by  his  reflections,  that  they  required  all  the  relief  de- 
rivable from  kicking  an  unoffending  animal  to  allay 
them,  is  matter  for  argument  and  consideration.     What- 


166  OLIVER  TWIST. 

ever  was  the  cause,  the  effect  was  a  kick  and  a  curse 
bestowed  upon  the  dog  simuUaneously. 

Dogs  are  not  generally  apt  to  revenge  injuries  inflicted 
upon  them  by  their  masters ;  but  Mr.  Sikes's  dog,  having 
faults  of  temper  in  common  with  his  owner :  and  labor- 
ing, perhaps,  at  this  moment,  under  a  powerful  sense  of 
injury  :  made  no  more  ado  but  at  once  fixed  his  teeth  in 
one  of  the  half-boots.  Having  given  it  a  hearty  shake, 
he  retired,  growling,  under  a  form ;  thereby  just  escap- 
ing the  pewter  measure  which  Mr.  Sikes  levelled  at  his 
head. 

"  You  would,  would  you  ? "  said  Sikes,  seizing  the 
poker  in  one  hand,  and  deliberately  opening  with  the 
other  a  large  clasp-knife,  which  he  drew  from  his 
pocket.  "  Come  here,  you  born  devil !  Come  here ! 
D'ye  hear?" 

The  dog  no  doubt  heard ;  because  Mr.  Sikes  spoke  in 
the  very  harshest  key  of  a  very  harsh  voice ;  but,  ap- 
pearing to  entertain  some  unaccountable  objection  to 
having  his  throat  cut,  he  remained  where  he  was,  and 
growled  more  fiercely  than  before  :  at  the  same  time 
grasping  the  end  of  the  poker  between  his  teeth,  and 
biting  at  it  like  a  wild  beast. 

This  resistance  only  infuriated  Mr.  Sikes  the  more ; 
who,  dropping  on  his  knees,  began  to  assail  the  animal 
most  furiously.  The  dog  jumped  from  right  to  left,  and 
from  left  to  right :  snapping,  growling,  and  barking  ;  the 
man  thrust  and  swore,  and  struck  and  blasphemed  ;  and 
the  struggle  was  reaching  a  most  critical  point  for  one  or 
other,  when,  the  door  suddenly  opening,  the  dog  darted 
out :  leaving  Bill  Sikes  with  the  poker  and  the  clasp- 
knife  in  his  hands. 

There  must  always  be  two  parties  to  a  quarrel,  says 


OLIVER  TWIST.  167 

the  old  adage.  jVIr.  Sikes,  being  disappointed  of  the 
dog's  participation,  at  once  transferred  his  share  in  the 
quarrel  to  the  new-comer. 

"  What  the  devil  do  you  come  in  between  me  and  my 
dog  for  ?  "  said  Sikes,  with  a  fierce  gesture. 

'•  I  didn't  know,  my  dear,  I  didn't  know,"  replied 
Fagin,  humbly  —  for  the  Jew  was  the  new-comer. 

"  Didn't  know,  you  white-livered  thief ! "  growled 
Sikes.     "  Couldn't  you  hear  the  noise  ?  " 

"  Not  a  sound  of  it,  as  I'm  a  living  man,  Bill,"  replied 
the  Jew. 

"  Oh  no !  You  hear  nothing,  you  don't,"  retorted 
Sikes,  with  a  fierce  sneer.  "  Sneaking  in  and  out,  so  as 
nobody  hears  how  you  come  or  go !  I  wish  you  had 
been  the  dog,  Fagin,  half  a  minute  ago." 

"  Why  ?  "  inquired  the  Jew  with  a  forced  smile. 

"'Cause  the  government,  as  cares  for  the  lives  of 
such  men  as  you,  as  haven't  half  the  pluck  of  curs,  lets 
a  man  kill  a  dog  how  he  likes,"  replied  Sikes,  shutting 
up  the  knife  with  a  very  expressive  look ;  "  that's  why." 

The  Jew  rubbed  his  hands ;  and,  sitting  down  at  the 
table,  affected  to  laugh  at  the  pleasantry  of  his  friend. 
He  was  obviously  very  ill  at  ease,  however. 

"  Grin  away,"  said  Sikes,  replacing  the  poker,  and 
surveying  him  v/ith  savage  contempt ;  "  grin  away. 
You'll  never  have  the  laugh  at  me,  though,  unless  it's 
behind  a  night-cap.  I've  got  the  upper-hand  over  you, 
Fagin  ;  and  d —  me,  I'll  keep  it.  There  !  If  I  go,  you 
go  ;  so  take  care  of  me." 

"  Well,  well,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew,  "  I  know  all 
that  ;  we  —  we  —  have  a  mutual  interest.  Bill,  —  a 
mutual  interest." 

'•  Humph,"  said  Sikes,  as  if  he  thought  the  interest 


168  OLIVER  TWIST. 

lay  rather  more  on  the  Jew's  side  than  on  his.  "  "Well, 
what  have  you  got  to  say  to  me  ?  " 

"  It's  all  passed  safe  through  the  melting-pot,"  replied 
Fagin,  "  and  this  is  your  share.  It's  rather  more  than  it 
ought  to  be,  my  dear ;  but  as  I  know  you'll  do  me  a 
good  turn  another  time,  and  " 

"  'Stow  that  gammon,"  interposed  the  robber,  impa- 
tiently.    "  Where  is  it  ?     Hand  over  ! " 

"  Yes  yes,  Bill ;  give  me  time,  give  me  time,"  replied 
the  Jew  soothingly.  "  Here  it  is  !  All  safe  ! "  As  he 
spoke,  he  drew  forth  an  old  cotton  handkerchief  from  his 
breast ;  and  untying  a  large  knot  in  one  corner,  produced 
a  small  brown-paper  packet.  Sikes,  snatching  it  from 
him,  hastily  opened  it ;  and  proceeded  to  count  the  sov- 
ereigns it  contained. 

"  This  is  all,  is  it  ?  "  inquired  Sikes. 

«  All,"  replied  the  Jew. 

"  You  haven't  opened  the  parcel  and  swallowed  one  or 
two  as  you  come  along,  have  you  ?  "  inquired  Sikes,  sus- 
piciously. "  Don't  put  on  an  injured  look  at  the  ques- 
tion ;  you've  done  it  many  a  time.     Jerk  the  tinkler." 

These  words,  in  plain  English,  conveyed  an  injunction 
to  ring  the  bell.  It  was  answered  by  another  Jew  : 
younger  than  Fagin,  but  nearly  as  vile  and  repulsive  in 
appearance. 

Bill  Sikes  merely  pointed  to  the  empty  measure.  The 
Jew,  perfectly  understanding  the  hint,  retired  to  fill  it : 
previously  exchanging  a  remarkable  look  with  Fagin, 
who  raised  his  eyes  for  an  instant,  as  if  in  expectation  of 
it,  and  shook  his  head  in  reply  ;  so  slightly  that  the  action 
would  have  been  almost  imperceptible  to  an  observant 
third  person.  It  was  lost  upon  Sikes,  who  was  stooping 
at  the  moment  to  tie  the  boot-lace  which  the  dog  had 


OLIVER  TWIST.  169 

torn.  Possibly,  if  lie  had  observed  the  brief  interchange 
of  signals,  he  might  have  thought  that  it  boded  no  good 
to  him. 

"  Is  anybody  here,  Barney  ?  "  inquired  Fagin  ;  speak- 
ing :  now  that  Sikes  was  looking  on  :  without  raising  his 
eyes  from  the  ground. 

"  Dot  a  shoul,"  replied  Barney ;  whose  words :  whether 
they  came  from  the  heart  or  not :  made  their  way  through 
the  nose. 

"  Nobody  ? "  inquired  Fagin,  in  a  tone  of  surprise  : 
which  perhaps  might  mean  that  Barney  was  at  liberty  to 
tell  the  truth. 

"  Dobody  but  Biss  Dadsy,"  replied  Barney. 

"  Nancy  !  "  exclaimed  Sikes.  "  Where  ?  Strike  me 
bhnd,  if  I  don't  honor  that  'ere  girl,  for  her  native  tal- 
ents." 

"  She's  bid  havid  a  plate  of  boiled  beef  id  the  bar," 
replied  Barney. 

"  Send  her  here,"  said  Sikes,  pouring  out  a  glass  of 
liquor.     "  Send  her  here." 

Barney  looked  timidly  at  Fagin,  as  if  for  permission ; 
the  Jew  remaining  silent,  and  not  lifting  his  eyes  from 
the  ground,  he  retired  ;  and  presently  returned,  ushering 
in  Nancy ;  who  was  decorated  with  the  bonnet,  apron, 
basket,  and  street-door  key,  complete. 

"  You  are  on  the  scent,  are  you,  Nancy  ? "  inquired 
Sikes,  proffering  the  glass. 

"  Yes,  I  am.  Bill,"  replied  the  young  lady,  disposing 
of  its  contents  ;  "  and  tired  enough  of  it  I  am,  too.  The 
young  brat's  been  ill  and  confined  to  the  crib ;  and  " 

"  Ah,  Nancy,  dear  !  "  said  Fagin,  looking  up. 

Now,  whether  a  peculiar  contraction  of  the  Jew's  red 
eyebrows,  and   a   half-closing  of  his   deeply  set   eyes, 


170  OLIVER  TWIST. 

warned  Miss  Nancy  that  she  was  disposed  to  be  too  com- 
municative, is  not  a  matter  of  much  importance.  The 
fact  is  all  we  need  care  for  here  ;  and  the  fact  is, 
that  she  suddenly  checked  herself:  and  with  several 
gracious  smiles  upon  Mr.  Sikes,  turned  the  conversa- 
tion to  other  matters.  In  about  ten  minutes'  time,  Mr. 
Fagin  was  seized  with  a  fit  of  coughing ;  upon  which 
Nancy  pulled  her  shawl  over  her  shoulders,  and  declared 
it  was  time  to  go.  Mr.  Sikes,  finding  that  he  was  walk- 
ing a  short  part  of  her  way  himself,  expressed  his  inten- 
tion of  accompanying  her ;  and  they  went  away  together : 
followed,  at  a  little  distance,  by  the  dog  :  who  slunk  out 
of  a  back-yard  as  soon  as  his  master  was  out  of  sight. 

The  Jew  thrust  his  head  out  of  the  room-door  when 
Sikes  had  left  it ;  looked  after  him  as  he  walked  up  the 
dark  passage  ;  shook  his  clenched  fist ;  muttered  a  deep 
curse  ;  and  then,  with  a  horrible  grin,  reseated  himself 
at  the  table  :  where  he  was  soon  deeply  absorbed  in  the 
interesting  pages  of  the  Hue-and-Cry. 

Meanwhile,  Oliver  Twist,  little  dreaming  that  he  was 
within  so  very  short  a  distance  of  the  merry  old  gentle- 
man, was  on  his  way  to  the  book-stall.  When  he  got 
into  Clerkenwell,  he  accidentally  turned  down  a  by- 
street, which  was  not  exactly  in  his  way ;  but  not  dis- 
covering his  mistake  until  he  had  got  half-way  down  it, 
and  knowing  it  must  lead  in  the  right  direction,  he  did 
not  think  it  worth  while  to  turn  back ;  and  so  marched 
on,  as  quickly  as  he  could,  with  the  books  under  his  arm. 

He  was  walking  along ;  thinking  how  happy  and  con- 
tented he  ought  to  feel ;  and  how  much  he  would  give 
for  only  one  look  at  poor  little  Dick  :  who,  starved  and 
beaten,  might  be  weeping  bitterly  at  that  very  moment ; 
when  he  was  startled  by  a  young  woman  screaming  out 


OLIVER  TWIST.  171 

very  loud,  "  Oh,  my  dear  brother  !  "  And  he  had  hardly 
looked  up  to  see  what  the  matter  was,  when  he  was 
stopped  by  having  a  pair  of  arms  thrown  tight  round  his 
neck. 

"  Don't,"  cried  Oliver,  struggling.  "  Let  go  of  me. 
Who  is  it  ?     What  are  you  stopping  me  for  ?  " 

The  only  reply  to  this,  was  a  great  number  of  loud 
lamentations  from  the  young  woman  who  had  embraced 
him ;  and  who  had  a  little  basket  and  a  street-door  key 
in  her  hand. 

"  Oh  my  gracious  ! "  said  the  young  woman,  "  I've 
found  him  !  Oh  !  Oliver  !  Oliver !  Oh  you  naughty 
boy,  to  make  me  suffer  sich  distress  on  your  account ! 
Come  home,  dear,  come.  Oh,  I've  found  him.  Thank 
gracious  goodness  heavins,  I've  found  him  ! "  With 
these  incoherent  exclamations,  the  young  woman  burst 
into  another  fit  of  crying,  and  got  so  dreadfully  hysteri- 
cal, that  a  couple  of  women  who  came  up  at  the  moment 
asked  a  butcher's  boy  with  a  shiny  head  of  hair  anointed 
with  suet,  who  was  also  looking  on,  whether  he  didn't 
think  he  had  better  run  for  the  doctor.  To  which,  the 
butcher's  boy :  who  appeared  of  a  lounging,  not  to  say 
indolent  disposition  :  replied,  that  he  thought  not. 

"  Oh,  no,  no,  never  mind,"  said  the  young  woman, 
grasping  Oliver's  hand  ;  "  I'm  better  now.  Come  home 
directly,  you  cruel  boy  !     Come  ! " 

"  What's  the  matter,  ma'am  ?  "  inquired  one  of  the 
women. 

"  Oh,  ma'am,"  replied  the  young  woman,  "  he  ran 
away,  near  a  month  ago,  from  his  parents,  who  are  hard- 
working and  respectable  people  ;  and  went  and  joined  a 
set  of  thieves  and  bad  characters  ;  and  almost  broke  his 
mother's  heart." 


172  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Young  wretch  ! "  said  one  woman. 

"  Go  home,  do,  you  httle  brute,"  said  the  other. 

"  I'm  not,"  rephed  Oliver,  gi-eatly  alarmed.  "  I  don't 
know  her.  I  haven't  any  sister,  or  father  and  mother 
either.     I'm  an  orphan ;  I  live  at  Pentonville." 

"  Oh,  only  hear  him,  how  he  braves  it  out !  "  cried  the 
young  woman. 

"  Why,  it's  Nancy  ! "  exclaimed  Oliver ;  who  now  saw 
her  face  for  the  first  time ;  and  started  back,  in  irrepres- 
sible astonishment. 

"  You  see  he  knows  me !  "  cried  Nancy,  appealing  to 
the  bystanders.  "  He  can't  help  himself.  Make  him 
come  home,  there's  good  people,  or  he'll  kill  his  dear 
mother  and  father,  and  break  my  heart ! " 

"  What  the  devil's  this  ?  "  said  a  man,  bursting  out  of 
a  beer-shop,  with  a  white  dog  at  his  heels ;  "  young 
Oliver!  Come  home  to  your  poor  mother,  you  young 
dog !     Come  home  directly." 

"  I  don't  belong  to  them.  I  don't  know  them.  Help  ! 
help  ! "  cried  Oliver,  struggling  in  the  man's  powerful 
grasp. 

"  Help  !  "  repeated  the  man.  "  Yes  ;  I'll  help  you, 
you  young  rascal  !  What  books  are  these  ?  You've 
been  a-stealing  'em,  have  you  ?  Give  'em  here."  With 
these  words,  the  man  tore  the  volumes  from  his  grasp, 
and  struck  him  on  the  head. 

"  That's  right !  "  cried  a  looker-on,  from  a  garret-win- 
dow. "  That's  the  only  way  of  bringing  him  to  his 
senses ! " 

"  To  be  sure  ! "  cried  a  sleepy-faced  carpenter,  casting 
an  approving  look  at  the  garret-window. 

"  It'll  do  him  good  !  "  said  the  two  women. 

"  And  he  shall  have  it,  too ! "  rejoined  the  man,  admin- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  173 

istering  another  blow,  and  seizing  Oliver  by  the  collar. 
"  Come  on,  you  young  villain  !  Here,  Bull's-eye,  mind 
him,  boy  !     Mind  him  ! " 

Weak  with  recent  illness  ;  stupefied  by  the  blows  and 
the  suddenness  of  the  attack;  terrified  by  the  fierce 
growling  of  the  dog,  and  the  brutality  of  the  man  ;  and 
overpowered  by  the  conviction  of  the  bystanders  that  he 
really  was  the  hardened  little  wretch  he  was  described 
to  be  ;  what  could  one  poor  child  do  !  Darkness  had  set 
in  ;  it  was  a  low  neighborhood  ;  no  help  was  near ;  resist- 
ance was  useless.  In  another  moment,  he  was  dragged 
into  a  labyrinth  of  dark  narrow  courts :  and  forced  along 
them,  at  a  pace  which  rendered  the  few  cries  he  dared 
to  give  utterance  to,  wholly  unintelligible.  It  was  of 
little  moment,  indeed,  whether  they  were  intelligible  or 
no  ;  for  there  was  nobody  to  care  for  them,  had  they 

been  ever  so  plain. 

***** 

The  gas-lamps  were  lighted ;  Mrs.  Bedwin  was  wait- 
ing anxiously  at  the  open  door ;  the  servant  had  run  up 
the  street  twenty  times  to  see  if  there  were  any  traces 
of  Oliver;  and  still  the  two  old  gentlemen  sat,  perse- 
veringly,  in  the  dark  parlor :  with  the  watch  between 
them. 


174  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

RELATES  WHAT    BECAME  OF    OLIVER   TWIST,  AFTER  HE 
HAD    BEEN    CLAIMED    BY    NANCY. 

The  narrow  streets  and  courts,  at  length,  terminated 
in  a  large  open  space  ;  scattered  about  which,  were  pens 
for  beasts :  and  other  indications  of  a  cattle-market. 
Sikes  slackened  his  pace  when  they  reached  this  spot : 
the  girl  being  quite  unable  to  support  any  longer,  the 
rapid  rate  at  which  they  had  hitherto  walked.  Turning 
to  Oliver,  he  roughly  commanded  him  to  take  hold  of 
Nancy's  hand. 

"  Do  you  hear  ?  "  growled  Sikes,  as  Oliver  hesitated, 
and  looked  round. 

They  were  in  a  dark  corner,  quite  out  of  the  track  of 
passengers.  Oliver  saw,  but  too  plainly,  that  resistance 
would  be  of  no  avail.  He  held  out  his  hand,  which 
Nancy  clasped  tight  in  hers. 

"  Give  me  the  other,"  said  Sikes,  seizing  Oliver's  un- 
occupied hand.     ''  Here,  Bull's-eye  ! " 

The  dog  looked  up  and  growled. 

"  See  here,  boy  !  "  said  Sikes,  putting  his  other  hand 
to  OHver's  throat ;  "  if  he  speaks  ever  so  soft  a  word, 
hold  him !     D'ye  mind  ?  " 

The  dog  growled  again ;  and  Hcking  his  lips,  eyed 
Oliver  as  if  he  were  anxious  to  attach  himself  to  his 
windpipe  without  delay. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  175 

"  He's  as  willing  as  a  Christian,  strike  me  blind  if  he 
isn't ! "  said  Sikes,  regarding  the  animal  with  a  kind  of 
grim  and  ferocious  approval.  "Now,  jou  know  what 
you've  got  to  expect,  master,  so  call  away  as  quick  as 
you  like ;  the  dog  will  soon  stop  that  game.  Get  on, 
young  'un ! " 

Bull's-eye  wagged  his  tail  in  acknowledgment  of  this 
unusually  endearing  form  of  speech  ;  and  giving  vent  to 
another  admonitory  growl  for  the  benefit  of  Oliver,  led 
the  way  onward. 

It  was  Smithfield  that  they  were  crossing,  although  it 
might  have  been  Grosvenor-square,  for  anything  Oliver 
knew  to  the  contrary.  The  night  was  dark  and  foggy. 
The  lights  in  the  shops  could  scarcely  struggle  through 
the  heavy  mist,  which  thickened  every  moment  and 
shrouded  the  streets  and  houses  in  gloom  ;  rendering  the 
strange  place  still  stranger  in  Oliver's  eyes  ;  and  making 
his  uncertainty  the  more  dismal  and  depressing. 

They  had  hurried  on  a  few  paces,  when  a  deep  church- 
bell  struck  the  hour.  With  its  first  stroke,  his  two  con- 
ductors stopped  :  and  turned  their  heads  in  the  direction 
whence  the  sound  proceeded. 

"  Eight  o'clock.  Bill,"  said  Nancy,  when  the  bell  ceased. 

"  What's  the  good  of  telling  me  that ;  I  can  hear  it, 
can't  I !  "  replied  Sikes. 

"  I  wonder  whether  they  can  hear  it,"  said  Nancy. 

"  Of  course  they  can,"  replied  Sikes.  "  It  was  Bartle- 
my  time  when  I  w^as  shopped ;  and  there  warn't  a  penny 
trumpet  in  the  fair,  as  I  couldn't  hear  the  squeaking  on. 
Arter  I  was  locked  up  for  the  night,  the  row  and  din  out- 
side made  the  thundering  old  jail  so  silent,  that  I  could 
almost  have  beat  my  head  out  against  the  iron  plates  of 
the  door." 


176  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Poor  fellows ! "  said  Nancy,  who  still  had  her  face 
turned  towards  the  quarter  in  which  the  bell  had  sounded. 
"  Oh,  Bill,  such  fine  young  chaps  as  them !  " 

"Yes;  that's  all  you  women  think  of,"  answered 
Sikes.  "  Fine  young  chaps !  Well,  they're  as  good  as 
dead,  so  it  don't  much  matter." 

With  this  consolation,  Mr.  Sikes  appeared  to  repress 
a  rising  tendency  to  jealousy;  and,  clasping  Ohver's 
wrist  more  firmly,  told  him  to  step  out  again. 

"  Wait  a  minute !  "  said  the  girl :  "  I  wouldn't  hurry 
by,  if  it  was  you  that  was  coming  out  to  be  hung,  the 
next  time  eight  o'clock  struck,  Bill.  I'd  walk  round  and 
round  the  place  till  I  dropped,  if  the  snow  was  on  the 
ground,  and  I  hadn't  a  shawl  to  cover  me." 

"  And  what  good  would  that  do  ? "  inquired  the  un- 
sentimental Mr.  Sikes.  "  Unless  you  could  pitch  over 
a  file  and  twenty  yards  of  good  stout  rope,  you  might  as 
well  be  walking  fifty  mile  off,  or  not  walking  at  all,  for 
all  the  good  it  would  do  me.  Come  on,  will  you,  and 
don't  stand  preaching  there." 

The  girl  burst  into  a  laugh;  drew  her  shawl  more 
closely  round  her ;  and  they  walked  away.  But  Oliver 
felt  her  hand  tremble  ;  and  looking  up  in  her  face  as 
they  passed  a  gas-lamp,  saw  that  it  had  turned  a  deadly 
white. 

They  walked  on,  by  little-frequented  and  dirty  ways, 
for  a  full  half-hour :  meeting  very  few  people ;  and  those 
appearing  from  their  looks  to  hold  much  the  same  posi- 
tion in  society  as  Mr.  Sikes  himself.  At  length  they 
turned  into  a  very  filthy  narrow  street,  nearly  full  of  old- 
clothes  shops ;  the  dog  running  forward,  as  if  conscious 
that  there  was  no  further  occasion  for  his  keeping  on 
guard,  stopped  before  the  door  of  a  shop  that  was  closed 


OLIVER  TWIST.  177 

and  apparently  untenanted.  The  house  was  in  a  ruinous 
condition ;  and  on  the  door  was  nailed  a  board,  intimat- 
ing that  it  was  to  let :  which  looked  as  if  it  had  hung 
there  for  many  years. 

"  All  right,"  cried  Sikes,  glancing  cautiously  about. 

Nancy  stooped  below  the  shutters  ;  and  Oliver  heard 
the  sound  of  a  bell.  They  crossed  to  the  opposite  side 
of  the  street :  and  stood  for  a  few  moments  under  a  lamp. 
A  noise,  as  if  a  sash  w^indow  w^ere  gently  raised,  was 
heard  ;  and  soon  afterwards  the  door  softly  opened.  Mr. 
Sikes  then  seized  the  ten-ified  boy  by  the  collar  with 
very  little  ceremony  ;  and  all  three  were  quickly  inside 
the  house. 

The  passage  was  perfectly  dark.  They  waited,  while 
the  person  who  had  let  them  in,  chained  and  barred  the 
door. 

"  Anybody  here  ?  "  inquired  Sikes. 

"  No,"  replied  a  voice,  which  Oliver  thought  he  had 
heard  before. 

"  Is  the  old  'un  here  ?  "  asked  the  robber. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  voice  ;  "  and  precious  down  in  the 
moutli  he  has  been.  Won't  he  be  glad  to  see  you  ?  Oh, 
no!" 

The  style  of  this  reply,  as  well  as  the  voice  which  de- 
livered it,  seemed  familiar  to  Oliver's  ears :  but  it  was 
impossible  to  distinguish  even  the  form  of  the  sj)eaker  in 
the  darkness. 

"  Let's  have  a  glim,"  said  Sikes,  "  or  we  shall  go 
breaking  our  necks,  or  treading  on  the  dog.  Look  after 
your  legs  if  you  do  !     That's  all." 

"  Stand  still  a  moment,  and  I'll  get  you  one,"  replied 
the  voice.  The  receding  footsteps  of  the  speaker  were 
heard ;  and  in  another  minute,  the  form  of  Mr.  John 

VOL.  I.  12 


178  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Dawkins,  otherwise  the  artful  Dodger,  appeared.  He 
bore  in  his  right  hand  a  tallow-candle  stuck  in  the  end 
of  a  cleft  stick. 

The  young  gentleman  did  not  stop  to  bestow  any  other 
mark  of  recognition  upon  Oliver  than  a  humorous  grin  ; 
but,  turning  away,  beckoned  the  visitors  to  follow  him 
down  a  flight  of  stairs.  They  crossed  an  empty  kitchen  ; 
and,  opening  the  door  of  a  low  earthy-smelling  room, 
which  seemed  to  have  been  built  in  a  small  back-yard, 
were  received  with  a  shout  of  laughter. 

"  Oh,  my  wig,  my  wig  !  "  cried  Master  Charles  Bates, 
from  whose  lungs  the  laughter  had  proceeded ;  "  here 
he  is  !  oh,  cry,  here  he  is  !  Oh,  Fagin,  look  at  him ; 
Fagin,  do  look  at  him  !  I  can't  bear  it ;  it  is  such  a 
jolly  game,  I  can't  bear  it.  Hold  me,  somebody,  while 
I  laugh  it  out." 

"With  this  irrepressible  ebullition  of  mirth,  Master 
Bates  laid  himself  flat  on  the  floor :  and  kicked  convul- 
sively for  five  minutes,  in  an  ecstasy  of  facetious  joy. 
Then  jumping  to  his  feet,  he  snatched  the  cleft  stick 
from  the  Dodger  ;  and,  advancing  to  Oliver,  viewed  him 
round  and  round;  while  the  Jcav,  taking  off  his  night- 
cap, made  a  great  number  of  low  bow^s  to  the  bewildered 
boy.  The  Artful,  meantime,  who  was  of  a  rather  satur- 
nine disposition,  and  seldom  gave  way  to  merriment  when 
it  interfered  with  business,  rifled  Oliver's  pockets  with 
steady  assiduity. 

"  Look  at  his  togs,  Fagin  !  "  said  Charley,  putting  the 
light  so  close  to  his  new  jacket  as  nearly  to  set  him  on 
fire.  "  Look  at  his  togs,  —  superfine  cloth,  and  the 
heavy-swell  cut !  Oh,  my  eye,  what  a  game  !  And  his 
books,  too ;  nothing  but  a  gentleman,  Fagin  !  " 

"  Delighted  to  see  you  looking  so  well,  my  dear,"  said 


OLIVER  TWIST.  179 

the  Jew,  bowing  with  mock  humility.  "  The  Artful  shall 
give  you  another  suit,  my  dear,  for  fear  you  should  spoil 
that  Sunday  one.  Why  didn't  you  write,  my  dear,  and 
say  you  were  coming  ?  We'd  have  got  something  warm 
for  supper." 

At  this,  Master  Bates  roared  again  ;  so  loud,  that  Fa- 
gin  himself  relaxed  :  and  even  the  Dodger  smiled ;  but 
as  the  Ai'tful  drew  forth  the  five-pound  note  at  that  in- 
stant, it  is  doubtful  whether  the  sally  or  the  discovery 
awakened  his  merriment. 

"  Hallo !  what's  that  ?  "  inquired  Sikes,  stepping  forward 
as  the  Jew  seized  the  note.     "  That's  mine,  Fagin." 

"  No,  no,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew.  "  Mine,  Bill,  mine. 
You  shall  have  the  books." 

"  If  that  a'n't  mine  !  "  said  Bill  Sikes,  putting  on  his 
hat  with  a  determined  air  ;  "  mine  and  Nancy's,  that  is  : 
I'll  take  the  boy  back  again." 

The  Jew  started.  Oliver  started  too,  though  from  a 
very  different  cause ;  for  he  hoped  that  the  dispute  might 
really  end  in  his  being  taken  back. 

"  Come  !     Hand  over,  will  you  ?  "  said  Sikes. 

"  This  is  hardly  fair,  Bill ;  hardly  fair,  is  it,  Nancy  ?  " 
inquired  the  Jew. 

"  Fair  or  not  fair,"  retorted  Sikes,  "  hand  over,  I  tell 
you  !  Do  you  think  Nancy  and  me  has  got  nothing  else 
to  do  with  our  precious  time  but  to  spend  it  in  scouting 
arter,  and  kidnapping,  every  young  boy  as  gets  grabbed 
through  you  ?  Give  it  here,  you  avaricious  old  skeleton ; 
give  it  here  !  " 

With  this  gentle  remonstrance,  Mr.  Sikes  plucked  the 
note  from  between  the  Jew's  finger  and  thumb  ;  and 
looking  the  old  man  coolly  in  the  face,  folded  it  up  small, 
and  tied  it  in  his  neckerchief. 


180  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  That's  for  our  share  of  the  trouble,"  said  Sikes : 
"  and  not  half  enough,  neither.  You  may  keep  the 
books,  if  you're  fond  of  reading.  If  you  a'n't,  sell 
'em." 

"  They're  very  pretty,"  said  Charley  Bates  :  who  with 
sundry  grimaces  had  been  affecting  to  read  one  of  the 
volumes  in  question;  "beautiful  writing,  isn't  it,  Oliver?" 
At  sight  of  the  dismayed  look  with  which  Oliver  regarded 
his  tormentors,  Master  Bates,  who  was  blessed  with  a 
lively  sense  of  the  ludicrous,  fell  into  another  ecstasy, 
more  boisterous  than  the  first. 

"  They  belong  to  the  old  gentleman,"  said  Oliver, 
wringing  his  hands ;  "  to  the  good,  kind,  old  gentleman 
who  took  me  into  his  house,  and  had  me  nursed,  when 
I  was  near  dying  of  the  fever.  Oh,  pray  send  them 
back ;  send  him  back  the  books  and  money.  Keep  me 
here  all  my  life  long ;  but  pray,  pray  send  them  back. 
He'll  think  I  stole  them  ;  the  old  lady :  all  of  them  who 
were  so  kind  to  me  :  will  think  I  stole  them.  Oh,  do 
have  mercy  upon  me,  and  send  them  back ! " 

With  these  words,  which  were  uttered  with  all  the 
energy  of  passionate  grief,  Oliver  fell  upon  his  knees  at 
the  Jew's  feet ;  and  beat  his  hands  together,  in  perfect 
desperation. 

"  The  boy's  right,"  remarked  Fagin,  looking  covertly 
round,  and  knitting  his  shaggy  eyebrows  into  a  hard 
knot.  "  You're  right,  Oliver,  you're  right ;  they  will 
think  you  have  stolen  'em.  Ha !  ha ! "  chuckled  the 
Jew,  rubbing  his  hands  ;  "  it  couldn't  have  happened 
better,  if  we  had  chosen  our  time  ! " 

"  Of  course  it  couldn't,"  replied  Sikes  ;  "  I  know'd 
that,  directly  I  see  him  coming  through  Clerkenwell, 
with  the  books  under  his  arm.     It's  all  right  enough. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  181 

They're  soft-hearted  psalm-singers,  or  they  wouldn't  have 
taken  him  in  at  all ;  and  they'll  ask  no  questions  after 
him,  for  fear  they  should  be  obliged  to  prosecute,  and  so 
get  him  lagged.     He's  safe  enough." 

Oliver  had  looked  from  one  to  the  other,  while  these 
words  were  being  spoken,  as  if  he  were  bewildered, 
and  could  scarcely  understand  what  passed ;  but  when 
Bill  Sikes  concluded,  he  jumped  suddenly  to  his  feet, 
and  tore  wildly  from  the  room :  uttering  shrieks  for 
help,  which  made  the  bare  old  house  echo  to  the  roof. 

"  Keep  back  the  dog,  Bill !  "  cried  Nancy,  springing 
before  the  door,  and  closing  it,  as  the  Jew  and  his  two 
pupils  darted  out  in  pursuit ;  "  keep  back  the  dog  ;  he'll 
tear  the  boy  to  pieces." 

"  Serve  him  right ! "  cried  Sikes,  struggling  to  disen- 
gage himself  from  the  girl's  grasp.  "  Stand  off  from 
me,  or  I'll  split  your  head  against  the  wall." 

"  I  don't  care  for  that.  Bill ;  I  don't  care  for  that," 
screamed  the  girl,  struggling  violently  with  the  man  : 
"  the  child  shan't  be  torn  down  by  the  dog,  unless  you 
kill  me  first." 

"  Shan't  he ! "  said  Sikes,  setting  his  teeth  fiercely. 
''I'll  soon  do  that,  if  you  don't  keep  off." 

The  housebreaker  flung  the  girl  from  him  to  the  far- 
ther end  of  the  room  ;  just  as  the  Jew  and  the  two  boys 
returned  :  dragging  Oliver  among  them. 

"  What's  the  matter  here  ?  "  said  Fagin,  looking  round. 

"  The  girl's  gone  mad,  I  think,"  replied  Sikes,  sav- 
agely. 

"  No,  she  hasn't,"  said  Nancy,  pale  and  breathless  from 
the  scuffle  ;  "  no,  she  hasn't,  Fagin  ;  don't  think  it." 

"  Then  keep  quiet,  will  you  ?  "  said  the  Jew,  with  a 
tlireatening  look. 


182  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  No,  I  won't  do  that,  neither,"  replied  Nancy,  speak- 
ing very  loud.    "  Come  !    What  do  you  think  of  that  ?  " 

Mr.  Fagin  was  sufficiently  well  acquainted  with  the 
manners  and  customs  of  that  particular  species  of  hu- 
manity to  which  Nancy  belonged,  to  feel  tolerably  cer- 
tain that  it  would  be  rather  unsafe  to  prolong  any 
conversation  with  her,  at  present.  With  the  view  of 
diverting  the  attention  of  the  company,  he  turned  to 
Oliver. 

"  So  you  wanted  to  get  away,  my  dear,  did  you  ?  " 
said  the  Jew,  taking  up  a  jagged  and  knotted  club  which 
lay  in  a  corner  of  the  fireplace  ;  "  eh  ?  " 

Oliver  made  no  reply.  But  he  watched  the  Jew's 
motions  ;  and  breathed  quickly. 

"  Wanted  to  get  assistance  ;  called  for  the  police  ;  did 
you  ?  "  sneered  the  Jew,  catching  the  boy  by  the  arm. 
"  We'll  cure  you  of  that,  my  young  master." 

The  Jew  inflicted  a  smart  blow  on  Oliver's  shoulders 
with  the  club  ;  and  was  raising  it  for  a  second,  when  the 
girl,  rushing  forward,  wrested  it  from  his  hand.  She 
flung  it  into  the  fire,  with  a  force  that  brought  some  of 
the  glowing  coals  whirling  out  into  the  room. 

"  I  won't  stand  by  and  see  it  done,  Fagin,"  cried  the 
girl.  "  You've  got  the  boy,  and  what  more  would  you 
have  ?  —  Let  him  be  —  let  him  be,  or  I  shall  put  that 
mark  on  some  of  you,  that  will  bring  me  to  the  gallows 
before  my  time." 

The  girl  stamped  her  foot  violently  on  the  floor  as 
she  vented  this  threat ;  and  with  her  lips  compressed, 
and  her  hands  clenched,  looked  alternately  at  the  Jew 
and  the  other  robber :  her  face  quite  colorless  from  the 
passion  of  rage  into  which  she  had  gradually  worked 
herself. 


OLIVER   TWIST.  183 

"  Why,  Nancy  !  "  said  the  Jew.  in  a  soothing  tone  ; 
after  a  pause,  during  which  he  and  Mr.  Sikes  had  stared 
at  one  another  in  a  disconcerted  manner  ;  you  —  you're 
more  clever  than  ever  to-night.  Ha  !  ha !  my  dear,  you 
are  acting  beautifully." 

"Am  I ! "  said  the  girl.  "  Take  care  I  don't  overdo  it. 
You  will  be  the  worse  for  it,  Fagin,  if  I  do  ;  and  so  I  tell 
you  in  good  time  to  keep  clear  of  me." 

There  is  something  about  a  roused  woman  :  especially 
if  she  add  to  all  her  other  strong  passions,  the  fierce  im- 
pulses of  recklessness  and  despair :  which  few  men  like 
to  provoke.  The  Jew  saw  that  it  would  be  hopeless  to 
affect  any  further  mistake  regarding  the  reality  of  Miss 
Nancy's  rage  ;  and  shrinking  involuntarily  back  a  few 
paces,  cast  a  glance,  half  imploring  and  half  cowardly 
at  Sikes :  as  if  to  hint  that  he  was  the  fittest  person  to 
pursue  the  dialogue. 

Mr.  Sikes,  thus  mutely  appealed  to ;  and  possibly 
feeling  his  personal  pride  and  influence  interested  in 
the  immediate  redaction  of  Miss  Nancy  to  reason  ;  gave 
utterance  to  about  a  couple  of  score  of  curses  and  threats, 
the  rapid  production  of  which  reflected  great  credit  on 
the  fertility  of  his  invention.  As  they  produced  no 
visible  effect  on  the  object  against  whom  they  were  dis- 
charged, however,  he  resorted  to  more  tangible  arguments. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  this  ? "  said  Sikes ;  backing 
the  inquiry  with  a  very  common  imprecation  concerning 
the  most  beautiful  of  human  features  :  which,  if  it  were 
heard  above,  only  once  out  of  every  fifty  thousand  times 
that  it  is  uttered  below,  would  render  blindness  as  com- 
mon a  disorder  as  measles  ;  ''  what  do  you  mean  by  it  ? 
Burn  my  body  !  Do  you  know  who  you  are,  and  what 
you  are  ?  " 


184  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  know  all  about  it,"  replied  the  girl,  laugh- 
ing hysterically ;  and  shaking  her  head  from  side  to  side, 
with  a  poor  assumption  of  indifference. 

"  Well,  then,  keep  quiet,"  rejoined  Sikes,  with  a  growl 
like  that  he  was  accustomed  to  use  when  addressing  his 
dog,  "  or  I'll  quiet  you  for  a  good  long  time  to  come." 

The  girl  laughed  again  :  even  less  composedly  than 
before;  and,  darting  a  hasty  look  at  Sikes,  turned  her 
face  aside,  and  bit  her  lip  till  the  blood  came. 

"  You're  a  nice  one,"  added  Sikes,  as  he  surveyed  her 
with  a  contemptuous  air,  "  to  take  up  the  humane  and 
gen — teel  side !  A  pretty  subject  for  the  child,  as  you 
call  him,  to  make  a  friend  of  ! " 

"  God  Almighty  help  me,  I  am ! "  cried  the  girl  pas- 
sionately ;  "  and  I  wish  I  had  been  struck  dead  in  the 
street,  or  had  changed  places  with  them  we  passed  so 
near  to-night,  before  I  had  lent  a  hand  in  bringing  him 
here.  He's  a  thief,  a  liar,  a  devil ;  all  that's  bad  from 
this  night  forth.  Isn't  that  enough  for  the  old  wretch 
without  blows  ?  " 

"  Come,  come,  Sikes,"  said  the  Jew,  appealing  to  him 
in  a  remonstratory  tone,  and  motioning  towards  the  boys, 
who  were  eagerly  attentive  to  all  that  passed ;  "  we  must 
have  civil  words ;  civil  words,  Bill." 

"  Civil  words ! "  cried  the  girl,  whose  passion  was 
frightful  to  see.  "  Civil  words,  you  villain  !  Yes  ;  you 
deserve  'em  from  me.  I  thieved  for  you  when  I  was  a 
child  not  half  as  old  as  this  !  "  pointing  to  Oliver.  "  I 
have  been  in  the  same  trade,  and  in  the  .same  service, 
for  twelve  years  since.  Don't  you  know  it?  Speak 
out !  don't  you  know  it  ?  " 

"  Well,  well,"  replied  the  Jew,  with  an  attempt  at  pac- 
ification ;  "  and  if  you  have,  it's  your  living  !  " 


OLIVER  TTVIST.  185 

"Aye,  it  is!"  returned  the  girl;  not  speaking,  but 
pouring  out  the  words  in  one  continuous  and  vehement 
scream.  "  It  is  my  living ;  and  the  cold,  wet,  dirty  streets 
are  my  home ;  and  you're  the  wretch  that  drove  me  to 
them  long  ago ;  and  that  '11  keep  me  there,  day  and  night, 
day  and  night,  till  I  die  !  " 

"  I  shall  do  you  a  mischief ! "  interposed  the  Jew, 
goaded  by  these  reproaches ;  "  a  mischief  worse  than 
that,  if  you  say  much  more  !  " 

The  girl  said  nothing  more ;  but  tearing  her  hair  and 
dress  in  a  transport  of  frenzy,  made  such  a  rush  at  the 
Jew  as  would  probably  have  left  signal  marks  of  her 
revenge  upon  him,  had  not  her  wrists  been  seized  by 
Sikes  at  the  right  moment ;  upon  which  she  made  a  few 
ineffectual  struggles  :  and  fainted. 

"  She's  all  right  now,"  said  Sikes,  laying  her  down  in 
a  corner.  "  She's  uncommon  strong  in  the  arms  when 
she's  up  in  this  way." 

The  Jew  wiped  his  forehead :  and  smiled,  as  if  it 
were  a  relief  to  have  the  disturbance  over;  but  neither 
he,  nor  Sikes,  nor  the  dog,  nor  the  boys,  seemed  to  con- 
sider it  in  any  other  light  than  a  common  occurrence 
incidental  to  business. 

"  It's  the  worst  of  having  to  do  with  women,"  said  the 
Jew,  replacing  his  club ;  "  but  they're  clever,  and  we 
can't  get  on,  in  our  line,  without  'em.  Charley,  show 
Oliver  to  bed." 

"  I  suppose  he'd  better  not  wear  his  best  clothes  to- 
morrow, Fagin,  had  he  ?  "  inquired  Charley  Bates. 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  the  Jew,  reciprocating  the 
grin  with  which  Charley  put  the  question. 

Master  Bates,  apparently  much  delighted  with  his 
commission,  took  the  cleft  stick  :   and   led  Oliver  into 


186  OLIVER  TWIST. 

an  adjacent  kitchen,  where  there  were  two  or  three  of 
the  beds  on  which  he  had  slept  before ;  and  here,  with 
many  uncontrollable  bursts  of  laughter,  he  produced  the 
identical  old  suit  of  clothes  which  Oliver  had  so  much 
congratulated  himself  upon  leaving  off  at  Mr.  Brown- 
low's  ;  and  the  accidental  display  of  which,  to  Fagin,  by 
the  Jew  who  purchased  them,  had  been  the  very  first 
clue  received,  of  his  whereabout. 

"  Pull  off  the  smart  ones,"  said  Charley,  "  and  I'll 
give  'em  to  Fagin  to  take  care  of.     "What  fun  it  is  !  " 

Poor  Oliver  unwillingly  complied.  Master  Bates, 
rolling  up  the  new  clothes  under  his  arm,  departed  from 
the  room  ;  leaving  Oliver  in  the  dark ;  and  locking  the 
door  behind  him. 

The  noise  of  Charley's  laughter  ;  and  the  voice  of 
Miss  Betsy,  who  opportunely  arrived  to  throw  water 
over  her  friend,  and  perform  other  feminine  offices  for 
the  promotion  of  her  recovery  ;  might  have  kept  many 
people  awake  under  more  happy  circumstances  than 
those  in  which  Oliver  was  placed.  But  he  was  sick  and 
weary ;  and  he  soon  fell  sound  asleep. 


OLR-ER   TWIST.  187 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

Oliver's  destiny  coxtixuixg  rxpROPiTiors,  brings 

A    GREAT    MAX    TO     LOXDOX    TO    IXJURE    HIS    REPU- 
TATIOX. 

It  is  the  custom  on  the  stage  :  in  all  good  murderous 
melodramas  :  to  present  the  tragic  and  the  comic  scenes, 
in  as  regular  alternation,  as  the  layers  of  red  and  white 
in  a  side  of  streaky,  well-cured  bacon.  The  hero  sinks 
upon  his  straw  bed,  weighed  down  by  fetters  and  mis- 
fortunes ;  and,  in  the  next  scene,  his  faithful  but  uncon- 
scious squire  regales  the  audience  with  a  comic  song. 
We  behold,  with  throbbing  bosoms,  the  heroine  in  the 
grasp  of  a  proud  and  ruthless  baron  :  her  virtue  and  her 
life  alike  in  danger ;  drawing  forth  her  dagger  to  pre- 
serve the  one  at  the  cost  of  the  other ;  and  just  as  our 
expectations  are  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch,  a 
whistle  is  heard  :  and  we  are  straightway  transported  to 
the  great  hall  of  the  castle :  where  a  gray-headed  senes- 
chal sings  a  funny  chorus  with  a  funnier  body  of  vassals, 
w^ho  are  free  of  all  sorts  of  places  from  church-vaults  to 
palaces,  and  roam  about  in  company,  carolling  perpet- 
ually. 

Such  changes  appear  absurd ;  but  they  are  not  so  un- 
natural as  they  would  seem  at  first  sight.  The  transitions 
in  real  life  from  well-spread  boards  to  death-beds,  and 


168  OLIVER  TWIST. 

from  mourning  weeds  to  holiday  garments,  are  not  a 
whit  less  startling ;  only,  there,  we  are  busy  actors,  in- 
stead of  jDassive  lookers-on ;  which  makes  a  vast  differ- 
ence. The  actors  in  the  mimic  life  of  the  theatre,  are 
blind  to  violent  transitions  and  abrupt  impulses  of  passion 
or  feeling,  which,  presented  before  the  eyes  of  mere  spec- 
tators, are  at  once  condemned  as  outrageous  and  prepos- 
terous. 

As  sudden  shiftings  of  the  scene,  and  rapid  changes  of 
time  and  place,  are  not  only  sanctioned  in  books  by  long 
usage,  but  are  by  many  considered  as  the  great  art  of 
authorship :  an  author's  skill  in  his  craft  being,  by  such 
critics,  chiefly  estimated  with  relation  to  the  dilemmas  in 
which  he  leaves  his  characters  at  the  end  of  every  chap- 
ter :  this  brief  introduction  to  the  present  one  may  per- 
haps be  deemed  unnecessary.  If  so,  let  it  be  considered 
a  delicate  intimation  on  the  part  of  the  historian  that  he 
is  going  back,  directly,  to  the  town  in  which  Oliver  Twist 
was  born ;  the  reader  taking  it  for  granted  that  there  are 
good  and  substantial  reasons  for  making  the  journey,  or 
he  would  not  be  invited  to  proceed  upon  such  an  expe- 
dition, on  any  account. 

Mr.  Bumble  emerged  at  early  morning  from  the  work- 
house gate ;  and  walked,  with  portly  carriage  and  com- 
manding steps,  up  the  High-street.  He  was  in  the  full 
bloom  and  pride  of  beadlehood ;  his  cocked-hat  and  coat 
were  dazzling  in  the  morning  sun  ;  and  he  clutched  his 
cane  with  the  vigorous  tenacity  of  health  and  power. 
Mr.  Bumble  always  carried  his  head  high ;  but  this 
morning  it  was  higher  than  usual.  There  was  an  ab- 
straction in  his  eye,  an  elevation  in  his  air,  which  might 
have  warned  an  observant  stranger  that  thoughts  were 
passing  in  the  beadle's  mind,  too  great  for  utterance. 


OLIVER   TWIST.  189 

Mr.  Bumble  stopped  not  to  converse  with  the  small 
shop-keepers  and  others  who  spoke  to  him,  deferentially 
as  he  passed  along.  He  merely  returned  their  saluta- 
tions with  a  wave  of  his  hand  ;  and  relaxed  not  in  his 
dignified  pace,  until  he  reached  the  farm  where  IMrs. 
Mann  tended  the  infant  paupers  with  parochial  care. 

"  Drat  that  beadle !  "  said  Mrs.  Mann,  hearing  the 
well-known  shaking  at  the  garden-gate.  "  If  it  isn't  him 
at  this  time  in  the  morning !  Lauk,  Mr.  Bumble,  only 
think  of  its  being  you  !  Well,  dear  me,  it  is  a  pleas- 
ure, this  is  !     Come  into  the  parlor,  sir,  please." 

The  first  sentence  was  addressed  to  Susan  ;  and  the 
exclamations  of  delight  were  uttered  to  Mr.  Bumble  :  as 
the  good  lady  unlocked  the  garden-gate  :  and  showed 
him,  with  great  attention  and  respect,  into  the  house. 

"  Mrs.  Mann,"  said  Mr.  Bumble ;  not  sitting  upon,  or 
dropping  himself  into  a  seat,  as  any  common  jackanapes 
would :  but  letting  himself  gradually  and  slowly  down 
into  a  chair  ;  "  Mrs.  Mann,  ma'am,  good-morning." 

"  Well,  and  good-morning  to  yoii,  sir,"  replied  Mrs. 
Mann,  with  many  smiles  ;  "  and  hoping  you  find  your- 
self well,  sir  !  " 

"  So-so,  Mrs.  Mann,"  replied  the  beadle.  "  A  porochial 
life  is  not  a  bed  of  roses,  Mrs.  Mann." 

"Ah,  that  it  isn't  indeed,  Mr.  Bumble,"  rejoined  the 
lady.  And  all  the  infant  paupers  might  have  cho- 
russed  the  rejoinder  with  great  propriety,  if  they  had 
heard  it. 

"A  porochial  life,  ma'am,"  continued  Mr.  Bumble, 
striking  the  table  with  his  cane,  "  is  a  life  of  worrit,  and 
vexation,  and  hardihood ;  but  all  public  characters,  as  I 
may  say,  must  suffer  prosecution." 

Mrs.  Mann,  not  very  well  knowing  what  the   beadle 


190  OLIVER  TWIST. 

meant,  raised  lier  hands  with  a  look  of  sympathy ;  and 
sighed. 

"  Ah  !  You  may  well  sigh,  Mrs.  Mann  !  "  said  the 
beadle. 

Finding  she  had  done  right,  Mrs.  Mann  sighed  again : 
evidently  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  public  character:  who, 
repressing  a  complacent  smile  by  looking  sternly  at  his 
cocked-hat,  said, 

"  Mrs.  Mann,  I  am  a-going  to  London." 

"  Lauk,  Mr.  Bumble  ! "  cried  Mrs.  Mann,  starting 
back. 

"  To  London,  ma'am,"  resumed  the  inflexible  beadle, 
"  by  coach.  I  and  two  paupers,  Mrs.  Mann  !  A  legal 
action  is  a-coming  on,  about  a  settlement ;  and  the  board 
has  appointed  me  —  me,  Mrs.  Mann  —  to  depose  to  the 
matter  before  the  quarter-sessions  at  Clerkinwell.  And 
I  very  much  question,"  added  Mr.  Bumble,  drawing  him- 
self up,  "  whether  the  Clerkinwell  Sessions  will  not  find 
themselves  in  the  wrong  box  before  they  have  done 
with  me." 

"  Oh !  you  mustn't  be  too  hard  upon  them,  sir,"  said 
Mrs.  Mann,  coaxingly. 

"The  Clerkinwell  Sessions  have  brought  it  upon  them- 
selves, ma'am,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble ;  "  and  if  the  Clerkin- 
well Sessions  find  that  they  come  otf  rather  worse  than 
they  expected,  the  Clerkinwell  Sessions  have  only  them- 
selves to  thank." 

There  was  so  much  determination  and  depth  of  pur- 
pose about  the  menacing  manner  in  which  Mr.  Bumble 
delivered  himself  of  these  words,  that  Mrs.  Mann  ap- 
peared quite  awed  by  them.     At  length,  she  said  : 

"  You're  going  by  coach,  sir  ?  I  thought  it  was  al- 
ways usual  to  send  them  paupers  in  carts." 


OLR'ER   TWIST.  191 

"  That's  when  they're  ill,  Mrs.  Mann,"  said  the  beadle. 
"  We  put  the  sick  paupers  into  open  carts  in  the  rainy- 
weather,  to  prevent  their  taking  cold." 

«  Oh  !  "  said  Mrs.  Mann. 

"  The  opposition  coach  contracts  for  these  two ;  and 
takes  them  cheap,"  said  jMr.  Bumble.  "  They  are  both 
in  a  very  low  state,  and  we  find  it  would  come  two 
pound  cheaper  to  move  'em  than  to  bury  'em  —  that  i?, 
if  we  can  throw  'em  upon  another  parish,  which  I  think 
we  shall  be  able  to  do,  if  they  don't  die  upon  the  road  to 
spite  us.     Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  " 

When  Mr.  Bumble  had  laughed  a  little  while,  his 
eyes  again  encountered  the  cocked-hat ;  and  he  became 
grave. 

"  We  are  forgetting  business,  ma'am,"  said  the  beadle ; 
"  here  is  your  porochial  stipend  for  the  month." 

Mr.  Bumble  produced  some  silver  money  roUed  up  in 
paper,  from  his  pocket-book  ;  and  requested  a  receipt : 
which  Mrs.  Mann  wrote. 

"  It's  very  much  blotted,  sir,"  said  the  farmer  of  in- 
fants ;  "  but  it's  formal  enough,  I  dare  say.  Thank  you, 
Mr.  Bumble,  sir,  I  am  very  much  obliged  to  you,  I'm 
sure," 

Mr.  Bumble  nodded,  blandly,  in  acknowledgment  of 
Mrs.  Mann's  courtesy  ;  and  inquired  how  the  children 
were. 

"  Bless  their  dear  little  hearts  ! "  said  Mrs.  Mann  with 
emotion,  "  they're  as  well  as  can  be,  the  dears.  Of 
course,  except  the  two  that  died  last  week.  And  little 
Dick." 

"  Isn't  that  boy  no  better  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Bumble. 

Mrs.  Mann  shook  her  head. 

"  He's   a  ill-conditioned,  wicious,  bad-disposed    poro- 


192  OLIVER  TWIST. 

chial  child,  that,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  angrily.  "  Where 
is  lie  ?  " 

"  I'll  bring  him  to  you  in  one  minute,  sir,"  replied 
Mrs.  Mann.     "  Here,  you  Dick  !  " 

After  some  calling,  Dick  was  discovered.  Having  had 
his  face  put  under  the  pump,  and  dried  upon  Mrs.  Mann's 
gown,  he  was  led  into  the  awful  presence  of  Mr.  Bumble, 
the  beadle. 

The  child  was  pale  and  thin ;  his  cheeks  were  sunken ; 
and  his  eyes  large  and  bright.  The  scanty  parish-dress : 
the  livery  of  his  misery :  hung  loosely  on  his  feeble  body ; 
and  his  young  limbs  had  wasted  away,  like  those  of  an 
old  man. 

Such  was  the  little  being  who  stood  trembling  beneath 
Mr.  Bumble's  glance  ;  not  daring  to  lift  his  eyes  from 
the  floor ;  and  dreading  even  to  hear  the  beadle's  voice. 

"  Can't  you  look  at  the  gentleman,  you  obstinate  boy  ! " 
said  Mrs.  Mann. 

The  child  meekly  raised  liisi  eyes,  and  encountered 
those  of  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  you,  porochial  Dick  ?  "  in- 
quired Mr.  Bumble  with  well-timed  jocularity. 

"  Nothing,  sir,"  replied  the  child  faintly. 

"  I  should  think  not,"  said  Mrs.  Mann,  who  had  of 
course  laughed  very  much  at  Mr.  Bumble's  humor. 
"  You  want  for  nothing,  I'm  sure." 

"  I  should  like  "  —  faltered  the  child. 

"  Hey-day!"  interposed  Mrs.  Mann,  "I  suppose  you're 
going  to  say  that  you  do  want  for  something,  now  ?  Why, 
you  little  wretch  " 

"  Stop,  Mrs.  Mann,  stop  ! "  said  the  beadle,  raising  his 
hand  with  a  show  of  authority.     "  Like  what,  sir  ;  eh  ?  " 

"  I  should  like,"  faltered  the  child,  "  if  somebody  that 


OLIVER  TWIST.  193 

can  write,  would  put  a  few  words  down  for  me  on  a  piece 
of  paper :  and  fold  it  up  and  seal  it :  and  keep  it  for  me, 
after  I  am  laid  in  the  ground." 

"  Why,  what  does  the  boy  mean  ? "  exclaimed  Mr. 
Bumble,  on  whom  the  earnest  manner  and  wan  asp(!ct 
of  the  child  had  made  some  impression :  accustomed  as 
he  was,  to  such  things.     '•  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  should  like,"  said  the  child,  "  to  leave  my  dear  love 
to  poor  Oliver  Twist ;  and  to  let  him  know  how  often  I 
have  sat  by  myself  and  cried  to  think  of  his  wandering 
about  in  the  dark  nights  with  nobody  to  help  him.  And 
I  should  like  to  tell  him,"  said  the  child,  pressing  his 
small  hands  together,  and  speaking  with  great  fervor, 
"  that  I  was  glad  to  die  when  I  was  very  young ;  for, 
perhaps,  if  I  had  lived  to  be  a  man,  and  had  grown  old, 
my  little  sister,  who  is  in  Heaven,  might  forget  me,  or  be 
unlike  me  ;  and  it  would  be  so  much  happier  if  we  were 
both  children  there  together." 

Mr.  Bumble  surveyed  the  little  speaker,  from  head  to 
foot,  with  indescribable  astonishment ;  and,  turning  to  his 
companion,  said,  "  They're  all  in  one  story,  Mrs.  Mann. 
That  out-dacious  OUver  has  demogalized  them  all !  " 

"  I  couldn't  have  believed  it,  sir ! "  said  Mrs.  Mann, 
holding  up  her  hands,  and  looking  malignantly  at  Dick. 
"  I  never  see  such  a  hardened  little  wretch !  " 

"  Take  him  away,  ma'am  ! "  said  Mr.  Bumble,  impe- 
riously.    "  This  must  be  stated  to  the  board,  Mrs.  Mann." 

"  I  hope  the  gentlemen  w411  understand  that  it  isn't  my 
fault,  sir  ?  "  said  Mrs.  Mann,  whimpering  pathetically. 

"  They  shall  understand  that,  ma'am  ;  they  shall  be 
acquainted  with  the  true  state  of  the  case,"  said  Mr. 
Bumble.  "  There ;  take  him  away.  I  can't  bear  the 
sight  on  him." 

VOL.  I.  13 


194  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Dick  was  immediately  taken  away,  and  locked  up  in 
the  coal-cellar.  Mr.  Bumble  shortly  afterwards  took 
himself  off,  to  prepare  for  his  journey. 

At  six  o'clock  next  morning,  Mr.  Bumble :  having  ex- 
changed his  cocked-hat  for  a  round  one,  and  encased  his 
person  in  a  blue  great-coat  with  a  cape  to  it :  took  his 
place  on  the  outside  of  the  coach,  accompanied  by  the 
criminals  whose  settlement  was  disputed ;  with  whom,  in 
due  course  of  time,  he  arrived  in  London.  He  expe- 
rienced no  other  crosses,  on  the  way,  than  those  which 
originated  in  the  perverse  behavior  of  the  two  paupers, 
who  persisted  in  shivering  and  complaining  of  the  cold, 
in  a  manner  which,  Mr.  Bumble  declared,  caused  his 
teeth  to  chatter  in  his  head,  and  made  him  feel  quite 
uncomfortable ;  although  he  had  a  great-coat  on. 

Having  disposed  of  these  evil-minded  persons  for  the 
night,  Mr.  Bumble  sat  himself  down  in  the  house  at 
which  the  coach  stopped :  and  took  a  temperate  dinner 
of  steaks,  oyster-sauce,  and  porter.  Putting  a  glass  of 
hot  gin-and-water  on  the  chimney-piece,  he  drew  his 
chair  to  the  fire ;  and,  with  sundry  moral  reflections  on 
the  too-prevalent  sin  of  discontent  and  complaining,  com- 
posed himself  to  read  the  paper. 

The  very  first  paragraph  upon  which  Mr.  Bumble's 
eyes  rested,  was  the  following  advertisement. 

"  FIVE    GUINEAS    REWARD. 

"Whereas  a  young  boy,  named  Oliver  Twist,  ab- 
sconded, or  was  enticed,  on  Thursday  evening  last,  from 
his  home  at  Pentonville  ;  and  has  not  since  been  heard 
of.  The  above  reward  will  be  paid  to  any  person  who 
will  give  such  information  as  will  lead  to  the  discovery 
of  the  said  Oliver  Twist,  or  tend  to  throw  any  light  upon 


OLIVER  TWIST.  195 

his  previous  history,  in  which  the  advertiser  is,  for  many 
reasons,  warmly  interested." 

And  then  followed  a  full  description  of  Oliver's  dress, 
person,  appearance,  and  disappearance :  with  the  name 
and  address  of  Mr.  Brownlow  at  full  length. 

Mr.  Bumble  opened  his  eyes ;  read  the  advertisement, 
slowly  and  carefully,  three  several  times  ;  and  in  some- 
thing more  than  five  minutes  was  on  his  way  to  Penton- 
ville  :  having  actually  in  his  excitement,  left  the  glass  of 
hot  gin- and- water,  untasted. 

"  Is  Mr.  Brownlow  at  home  ?  "  inquired  Mr.  Bumble 
of  the  girl  who  opened  the  door. 

To  this  inquiry  the  girl  returned  the  not  uncommon, 
but  rather  evasive  reply  of  "'  I  don't  know ;  where  do 
you  come  from  ?  " 

Mr.  Bumble  no  sooner  uttered  Ohver's  name,  in  expla- 
nation of  his  errand,  than  Mrs.  Bedwin,  who  had  been 
listening  at  the  parlor-door,  hastened  into  the  passage  in 
a  breathless  state. 

"  Come  in  —  come  in,"  said  the  old  lady  :  "  I  knew 
we  should  hear  of  him.  Poor  dear  !  I  knew  we  should ! 
I  was  certain  of  it.  Bless  his  heart  !  I  said  so,  all 
along." 

Having  said  this,  the  worthy  old  lady  hurried  back 
into  the  parlor  again  ;  and  seating  herself  on  a  sofa, 
burst  into  tears.  The  girl,  who  was  not  quite  so  sus- 
ceptible, had  run  up-stairs  meanwhile ;  and  now  returned 
with  a  request  that  Mr.  Bumble  would  follow  her  imme- 
diately :  which  he  did. 

He  was  shown  into  the  little  back  study,  where  sat 
Mr.  Brownlow  and  his  friend  Mr.  Grimwig,  with  decan- 
ters and  glasses  before  them.  The  latter  gentleman  at 
once  burst  into  the  exclamation  : 


196  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  A  beadle  !     A  parish  beadle,  or  I'll  eat  my  head." 

"  Pray  don't  interrupt  just  now,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow. 
"  Take  a  seat,  will  you  ?  " 

Mr.  Bumble  sat  himself  down  :  quite  confounded  by 
the  oddity  of  Mr.  Grimwig's  manner.  Mr.  Brownlow 
moved  the  lamp,  so  as  to  obtain  an  uninterrupted  view 
of  the  Beadle's  countenance ;  and  said,  with  a  little 
impatience, 

"  Now,  sir,  you  come  in  consequence  of  having  seen 
the  advertisement  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  And  you  are  a  beadle,  are  you  not  ?  "  inquired  Mr. 
Grimwig. 

"  I  am  a  porochial  beadle,  gentlemen,"  rejoined  Mr. 
Bumble,  proudly. 

"  Of  course,"  observed  Mr.  Grimwig  aside  to  his  friend, 
"  I  knew  he  was.     A  beadle  all  over  ! " 

Mr.  Brownlow  gently  shook  his  head  to  impose  silence 
on  his  friend,  and  resumed  : 

"  Do  you  know  where  this  poor  boy  is  now  ?  " 

"  No  more  than  nobody,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  Well,  what  do  you  know  of  him  ?  "  inquired  the  old 
gentleman.  "  Speak  out,  my  friend,  if  you  have  any- 
thing to  say.     What  do  you  know  of  him  ? " 

"  You  don't  happen  to  know  any  good  of  him,  do 
you  ?  "  said  Mr.  Grimwig,  caustically  ;  after  an  attentive 
perusal  of  Mr.  Bumble's  features. 

Mr.  Bumble,  catching  at  the  inquiry  very  quickly, 
shook  his  head  with  portentous  solemnity. 

"  You  see  ?  "  said  Mr.  Grimwig,  looking  triumphantly 
at  Mr.  Brownlow. 

Mr.  Brownlow  looked  apprehensively  at  Mr.  Bumble's 
pursed-up  countenance ;  and  requested   him  to  commu- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  197 

nicate  what  he  knew  regarding  Oliver,  in  as  few  words 
as  possible. 

Mr.  Bumble  put  down  his  hat ;  unbuttoned  his  coat ; 
folded  his  arms ;  inclined  his  head  in  a  retrospective 
manner ;  and,  after  a  few  moments'  reflection,  com- 
menced his  story. 

It  would  be  tedious  if  given  in  the  beadle's  words  : 
occupying,  as  it  did,  some  twenty  minutes  in  the  telling  ; 
but  the  sum  and  substance  of  it  was,  that  Oliver  was 
a  foundling,  born  of  low  and  vicious  parents.  That  he 
had,  from  his  birth,  displayed  no  better  qualities  than 
treachery,  ingratitude,  and  malice.  That  he  had  ter- 
minated his  brief  career  in  the  place  of  his  birth,  by 
making  a  sanguinary  and  cowardly  attack  on  an  unof- 
fending lad  ;  and  running  away  in  the  night-time  from 
his  master's  house.  In  proof  of  his  really  being  the 
person  he  represented  himself,  Mr.  Bumble  laid  upon 
the  table,  the  papers  he  had  brought  to  town :  and, 
folding  his  arms  again,  awaited  Mr.  Brownlow's  ob- 
servations. 

"  I  fear  it  is  all  too  true,"  said  the  old  gentleman  sor- 
rowfully, after  looking  over  the  papers.  "  This  is  not 
much  for  your  intelligence  ;  but  I  would  gladly  have 
given  you  treble  the  money,  if  it  had  been  favorable  to 
the  boy." 

It  is  not  at  all  improbable,  that  if  Mr.  Bumble  had 
been  possessed  of  this  information  at  an  earlier  period 
of  the  interview,  he  might  have  imparted  a  very  dif- 
ferent coloring  to  his  little  history.  It  was  too  late  to 
do  it  now,  however  ;  so  he  shook  his  head  gravely  :  and, 
pocketing  the  five  guineas,  withdrew. 

Mr.  Brownlow  paced  the  room  to  and  fro  for  some 
minutes  ;  evidently  so  much  disturbed    by  the   beadle's 


198  OLIVER  TWIST. 

tale,  that  even  Mr.  Grimwig  forbore  to  vex   him  fur- 
ther. 

At  length  he  stopped,  and  rang  the  bell  violently. 

"  Mrs.  Bedwin,"  said  Mr.  Brownlow,  when  the  house- 
keeper appeared  ;  "  that  boy,  Oliver,  is  an  impostor." 

"  It  can't  be,  sir.  It  cannot  be,"  said  the  old  lady 
energetically. 

"  I  tell  you  he  is,"  retorted  the  old  gentleman.  "  What 
do  you  mean  by  can't  be  ?  We  have  just  heard  a  full 
account  of  him  from  his  birth ;  and  he  has  been  a 
thorough-paced  little  villain  all  his  life." 

"  I  never  will  believe  it,  sir,"  replied  the  old  lady 
firmly.     *'  Never !  " 

"  You  old  women  never  believe  anything  but  quack- 
doctors,  and  lying  story-books,"  growled  Mr.  Grimwig. 
"  I  knew  it  all  along.  Why  didn't  you  take  my  advice 
in  the  beginning ;  you  would,  if  he  hadn't  had  a  fever, 
I  suppose,  eh  ?  He  was  interesting,  wasn't  he  ?  Inter- 
esting !  Bah  !  "  And  Mr.  Grimwig  poked  the  fire  with 
a  flourish. 

"  He  was  a  dear,  grateful,  gentle  child,  sir,"  retorted 
Mrs.  Bedwin,  indignantly.  "  I  know  what  children  are, 
sir ;  and  have  done  these  forty  years  ;  and  people  who 
can't  say  the  same,  shouldn't  say  anything  about  them. 
That's  my  opinion  !  " 

This  was  a  hard  hit  at  Mr.  Grimwig,  who  was  a  bach- 
elor. As  it  extorted  nothing  from  that  gentleman  but  a 
smile,  the  old  lady  tossed  her  head,  and  smoothed  down 
her  apron  preparatory  to  another  speech,  when  she  was 
stopped  by  Mr.  Brownlow. 

"  Silence  !  "  said  the  old  gentleman,  feigning  an  anger 
he  was  far  from  feeling.  "  Never  let  me  hear  the  boy's 
name  again.     I  rang  to  tell  you  that.     Never.     Never, 


OLIVER  TWIST.  199 

on  any  pretence,  mind  !  You  may  leave  the  room,  Mrs. 
Bedwin.     Remember  !     I  am  in  earnest." 

There  were  sad  hearts  at  Mr.  Brownlow's  that  night. 

Oliver's  heart  sank  within  him,  when  he  thought  of 
his  good  kind  friends  ;  it  was  well  for  him  that  he  could 
not  know  what  they  had  heard,  or  it  might  have  broken 
outright. 


200  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

now    OLIVER     PASSED     HIS     TIME    IN    THE     IMPROVING 
SOCIETY    OF    HIS    REPUTABLE    FRIENDS. 

About  noon  next  day,  when  the  Dodger  and  Master 
Bates  had  gone  out  to  pursue  their  customary  avocations, 
Mr.  Fagin  took  the  opportunity  of  reading  OHver  a  long 
lecture  on  the  crying  sin  of  ingratitude  :  of  which  he 
clearly  demonstrated  he  had  been  guilty,  to  no  ordinary 
extent,  in  wilfully  absenting  himself  from  the  society  of 
his  anxious  friends ;  and,  still  more,  in  endeavoring  to 
escape  from  them  after  so  much  trouble  and  expense  had 
been  incurred  in  his  recovery.  Mr.  Fagin  laid  great 
stress  on  the  fact  of  his  having  taken  Oliver  in,  and 
cherished  him,  when,  without  his  timely  aid,  he  might 
have  perished  with  hunger ;  and  he  related  the  dismal 
and  affecting  history  of  a  young  lad,  whom,  in  his  phi- 
lanthropy, he  had  succored  under  parallel  circumstances, 
but  who,  proving  unworthy  of  liis  confidence,  and  evinc- 
ing a  desire  to  communicate  with  the  police,  had  unfor- 
tunately come  to  be  hanged  at  the  Old  Bailey  one 
morning.  Mr.  Fagin  did  not  seek  to  conceal  his  share 
in  the  catastrophe,  but  lamented  with  tears  in  his  eyes, 
that  the  wrong-headed  and  treacherous  behavior  of  the 
young  person  in  question,  had  rendered  it  necessary 
that  he   should  become  the  victim  of  certain  evidence 


OLIVER  TWIST.  201 

for  the  crown :  which,  if  it  were  not  precisely  true,  was 
indispensably  necessary  for  the  safety  of  him  (Mr.  Fa- 
gin)  and  a  few  select  friends.  Mr.  Fagin  concluded  by 
drawing  a  rather  disagreeable  picture  of  the  discomforts 
of  hanging ;  and,  with  great  friendliness  and  politeness 
of  manner,  expressed  his  anxious  hopes  that  he  might 
never  be  obliged  to  submit  Oliver  Twist  to  that  un- 
pleasant operation. 

Little  OHver's  blood  ran  cold,  as  he  listened  to  the 
Jew's  words,  and  imperfectly  comprehended  the  dark 
threats  conveyed  in  them.  That  it  was  possible  even 
for  justice  itself  to  confound  the  innocent  with  the  guilty 
when  they  were  in  accidental  companionship,  he  knew 
already  ;  and  that  deeply  laid  plans  for  the  destruction 
of  inconveniently  knowing,  or  over-communicative,  per- 
sons, had  been  really  devised  and  carried  out  by  the 
old  Jew  on  more  occasions  than  one,  he  thought  by  no 
means  unlikely,  when  he  recollected  the  general  nature 
of  the  altercations  between  that  gentleman  and  Mr. 
Sikes  :  which  seemed  to  bear  reference  to  some  fore- 
gone conspiracy  of  the  kind.  As  he  glanced  timidly 
up,  and  met  the  Jew's  searching  look,  he  felt  that  his 
pale  face  and  trembling  limbs  were  neither  unnoticed, 
nor  unrelished  by,  that  wary  old  gentleman. 

The  Jew  smiled  hideously  ;  and,  patting  Oliver  on  the 
head,  said,  that  if  he  kept  himself  quiet,  and  apjDlied 
himself  to  business,  he  saw  they  would  be  very  good 
friends  yet.  Then,  taking  his  hat ;  and  covering  him- 
self with  an  old  patched  great-coat ;  he  went  out,  and 
locked  the  room-door  behind  him. 

And  so  Oliver  remained  all  that  day,  and  for  the 
greater  part  of  many  subsequent  days ;  seeing  nobody 
between  early  morning  and  midnight ;    and  left  during 


202  OLIVER  TWIST. 

the  long  hours,  to  commune  with  his  own  thoughts  : 
which,  never  failing  to  revert  to  his  kind  friends,  and 
the  opinion  they  must  long  ago  have  formed  of  him, 
were  sad  indeed. 

After  the  lapse  of  a  week  or  so,  the  Jew  left  the 
room-door  unlocked ;  and  he  was  at  liberty  to  wander 
about  the  house. 

It  was  a  very  dirty  place.  The  rooms  up-stairs  had 
great  high  wooden  chimney-pieces  and  large  doors,  with 
panelled  walls  and  cornices  to  the  ceilings :  which,  al- 
though they  were  black  with  neglect  and  dust,  were 
ornamented  in  various  ways  ;  from  all  of  which  tokens 
Oliver  concluded  that  a  long  time  ago,  before  the  old 
Jew  was  born,  it  had  belonged  to  better  people,  and 
had  perhaps  been  quite  gay  and  handsome :  dismal  and 
dreary  as  it  looked  now. 

Spiders  had  built  their  webs  in  the  angles  of  the 
walls  and  ceilings  ;  and  sometimes,  when  Oliver  walked 
softly  into  a  room,  the  mice  would  scamper  across  the 
floor,  and  run  back  terrified  to  their  holes.  With  these 
exceptions,  there  was  neither  sight  nor  sound  of  any 
living  thing ;  and  often,  when  it  grew  dark,  and  he  was 
tired  of  wandering  from  room  to  room,  he  would  crouch 
in  the  corner  of  the  passage  by  the  street-door,  to  be  as 
near  hving  people  as  he  could  ;  and  would  remain  there, 
li-stening  and  counting  the  hours,  until  the  Jew  or  the 
boys  returned. 

In  all  the  rooms,  the  mouldering  shutters  were  fast 
closed  :  and  the  bars  which  held  them  were  screwed 
tight  into  the  wood ;  the  only  light  which  was  admitted, 
stealing  its  way  through  round  holes  at  the  top :  which 
made  the  rooms  more  gloomy,  and  filled  them  with 
strange   shadows.      There  was   a   back-garret  wmdow, 


OLIVER  TWIST.  203 

with  rusty  bars  outside,  which  had  no  shutter ;  and  out 
of  this,  Oliver  often  gazed  with  a  melancholy  face  for 
hours  together ;  but  nothing  was  to  be  descried  from  it 
but  a  confused  and  crowded  mass  of  house-tops,  black- 
ened chimneys,  and  gable-ends.  Sometimes,  indeed,  a 
ragged  grizzly  head  might  be  seen,  peering  over  the 
parapet-wall  of  a  distant  house :  but  it  was  quickly 
withdrawn  again  ;  and  as  the  window  of  Oliver's  observ- 
atory was  nailed  down,  and  dimmed  with  the  rain  and 
smoke  of  years,  it  was  as  much  as  he  could  do  to  make 
out  the  forms  of  the  different  objects  beyond,  without 
making  any  attempt  to  be  seen  or  heard,  —  which  he  had 
as  much  chance  of  being,  as  if  he  had  lived  inside  the 
ball  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral. 

One  afternoon:  the  Dodger  and  Master  Bates  being 
engaged  out  that  evening :  the  first-named  young  gentle- 
man took  it  into  his  head  to  evince  some  anxiety  re- 
garding the  decoration  of  his  person  (which,  to  do  him 
justice,  was  by  no  means  an  habitual  weakness  with 
him) ;  and,  with  this  end  and  aim,  he  condescendingly 
commanded  Oliver  to  assist  him  in  his  toilet,  straight- 
way. 

Oliver  was  but  too  glad  to  make  himself  useful ;  too 
happy  to  have  some  faces,  however  bad,  to  look  upon  ; 
and  too  desirous  to  conciliate  those  about  him  when  he 
could  honestly  do  so  ;  to  throw  any  objection  in  the  way 
of  this  proposal.  So  he  at  once  expressed  his  readiness; 
and,  kneeling  on  the  floor,  while  the  Dodger  sat  upon 
the  table  so  that  he  could  take  his  foot  in  his  lap,  he 
applied  himself  to  a  process  which  Mr.  Dawkins  desig- 
nated as  "japanning  his  trotter-cases."  Which  phrase, 
rendered  into  plain  English,  signifieth,  cleaning  his 
boots. 


204  OLIVER  TWIST, 

Whether  it  was  the  sense  of  freedom  and  indepen- 
dence which  a  rational  animal  may  be  supposed  to  feel 
when  he  sits  on  a  table,  in  an  easy  attitude,  smoking  a 
pipe,  swinging  one  leg  carelessly  to  and  fro,  and  having 
his  boots  cleaned  all  the  time,  without  even  the  past 
trouble  of  having  taken  them  off,  or  the  prospective 
misery  of  putting  them  on,  to  disturb  his  reflections ;  or 
whether  it  was  the  goodness  of  the  tobacco  that  soothed 
the  feelings  of  the  Dodger,  or  the  mildness  of  the  beer 
that  mollified  his  thoughts,  he  was  evidently  tinctui-ed, 
for  the  nonce,  with  a  spice  of  romance  and  enthusiasm, 
foreign  to  his  general  nature.  He  looked  down  on 
Oliver,  with  a  thoughtful  countenance,  for  a  brief  space ; 
and  then,  raising  his  head,  and  heaving  a  gentle  sigh, 
said,  half  in  abstraction,  and  half  to  Master  Bates : 

"  What  a  pity  it  is  he  isn't  a  prig  !  " 

"  Ah  !  "  said  Master  Charles  Bates  ;  "  he  don't  know 
what's  good  for  him." 

The  Dodger  sighed  again,  and  resumed  his  pipe : 
as  did  Charley  Bates.  They  both  smoked,  for  some 
seconds,  in  silence. 

"  I  suppose  you  don't  even  know  what  a  prig  is  ?  "  said 
the  Dodger  mournfully. 

"  I  think  I  know  that,"  replied  Oliver,  looking  up. 
It's  a  th  —  ;  you're  one,  are  you  not  ?  "  inquired  Oliver, 
checking  himself. 

"  I  am,"  replied  the  Dodger.  "  I'd  scorn  to  be  any- 
think  else."  Mr.  Dawkins  gave  his  hat  a  ferocious  cock, 
after  delivering  this  sentiment ;  and  looked  at  Master 
Bates,  as  if  to  denote  that  he  would  feel  obliged  by  his 
saying  anything  to  the  contrary. 

"  I  am,"  repeated  the  Dodger.  "  So's  Charley.  So's 
Fagin.     So's   Sikes.     So's   Nancy.     So's   Bet.      So  we 


OLIVER  TWIST.  205 

all  are,  down  to  the  dog.  And  he's  the  downiest  one  of 
the  lot ! " 

"  And  the  least  given  to  peaching,"  added  Charley- 
Bates. 

"  He  wouldn't  so  much  as  bark  in  a  witness-box,  for 
fear  of  committing  himself;  no,  not  if  jou  tied  him  up 
in  one,  and  left  him  there  without  wittles  for  a  fortnight," 
said  the  Dodger. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  observed  Charley. 

"  He's  a  rum  dog.  Don't  he  look  jQerce  at  any  strange 
cove  that  laughs  or  sings  when  he's  in  company  ! "  pur- 
sued the  Dodger.  "  Won't  he  growl  at  all,  when  he 
hears  a  fiddle  playing !  And  don't  he  hate  other  dogs 
as  a'n*t  of  his  breed !  —  Oh,  no  ! " 

"  He's  an  out-and-out  Christian,"  said  Charley. 

This  was  merely  intended  as  a  tribute  to  the  animal's 
abilities,  but  it  was  an  appropriate  remark  in  another 
sense,  if  Master  Bates  had  only  known  it ;  for  there 
are  a  great  many  ladies  and  gentlemen,  claiming  to  be 
out-and-out  Christians,  between  whom,  and  Mr.  Sikes's 
dog,  there  exist  very  strong  and  singular  points  of  re- 
semblance. 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  Dodger,  recurring  to  the  point 
from  which  they  had  strayed :  with  that  mindfulness 
of  his  profession  which  influenced  all  his  proceedings. 
"This  hasn't  got  anything  to  do  with  young  Green 
here." 

"  No  more  it  has,"  said  Charley.  "  Why  don't  you 
put  yourself  under  Fagin,  Oliver  ?  " 

"And  make  your  fortun'  out  of  hand?"  added  the 
Dodger,  with  a  grin. 

"  And  so  be  able  to  retire  on  your  property,  and  do 
the  gen-teel :  as  I  mean  to,  in  the  very  next  leap-year 


206  OLIVER  TWIST. 

but  four  that  ever  comes,  and  the  forty-second  Tuesday 
in  Trinity-week,"  said  Charley  Bates. 

"  I  don't  like  it,"  rejoined  Oliver  timidly ;  "  I  wish 
they  would  let  me  go.     I  —  I —  would  rather  go." 

"  And  Fagin  would  rather  not !  "  rejoined  Charley. 

Oliver  knew  this  too  well ;  but,  thinking  it  might  be 
dangerous  to  express  his  feelings  more  openly,  he  only 
sighed,  and  went  on  with  his  boot-cleaning. 

"  Go  !  "  exclaimed  the  Dodger.  "  Why,  where's  your 
spirit?  Don't  you  take  any  pride  out  of  yourself  ?  Would 
you  go  and  be  dependent  on  your  friends  ?  " 

"  Oh,  blow  that !  "  said  Master  Bates  :  drawing  two  or 
three  silk  handkerchiefs  from  his  pocket  and  tossing  them 
into  a  cupboard,  "  that's  too  mean ;  that  is." 

"  /  couldn't  do  it,"  said  the  Dodger,  with  an  air  of 
haughty  disgust. 

"  You  can  leave  your  friends,  though,"  said  Oliver 
with  a  half  smile  ;  "  and  let  them  be  punished  for  what 
you  did." 

"  That,"  rejoined  the  Dodger,  with  a  wave  of  his  pipe, 
"  That  was  all  out  of  consideration  for  Fagin,  'cause  the 
traps  know  that  we  work  together,  and  he  might  have 
got  into  trouble  if  we  hadn't  made  our  lucky ;  that  was 
the  move,  wasn't  it,  Charley  ?  " 

Master  Bates  nodded  assent,  and  would  have  spoken ; 
but  the  recollection  of  OHver's  Jflight  came  so  suddenly 
upon  him,  that  the  smoke  he  was  inhaling  got  entangled 
with  a  laugh  ;  and  went  up  into  his  head,  and  down  into 
his  throat :  and  brought  on  a  fit  of  coughing  and  stamp- 
ing, about  five  minutes  long. 

"  Look  here,"  said  the  Dodger,  drawing  forth  a  hand- 
ful of  shillings  and  halfpence.  "  Here's  a  jolly  life ! 
What's  the  odds  where  it  comes  from  ?     Here,   catch 


OLIVER  TWIST.  207 

hold  ;  there's  plenty  more  where  they  were  took  from. 
You  won't,  won't  you  ?     Oh,  you  precious  flat !  " 

"  It's  naughty,  a'n't  it,  Oliver  ? "  inquired  Charley 
Bates.     "  He'll  come  to  be  scragged,  won't  he  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  what  that  means,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  Something  in  this  way,  old  feller,"  said  Charley.  As 
he  said  it.  Master  Bates  caught  up  an  end  of  his  necker- 
chief; and,  holding  it  erect  in  the  air,  dropped  his  head 
on  his  shoulder,  and  jerked  a  curious  sound  through  his 
teeth :  thereby  indicating,  by  a  lively  pantomimic  repre- 
sentation, that  scragging  and  hanging  were  one  and  the 
same  thing. 

"That's  what  it  means,"  said  Charley.  "Look  how 
he  stares.  Jack !  I  never  did  see  such  prime  company 
as  that  'ere  boy ;  he'll  be  the  death  of  me,  I  know  he 
will."  Master  Charles  Bates,  having  laughed  heartily 
again,  resumed  his  pipe  with  tears  in  his  eyes. 

"  You've  been  brought  up  bad,"  said  the  Dodger,  sur- 
veying his  boots  with  much  satisfaction  when  Oliver  had 
polished  them.  "  Fagin  will  make  something  of  you, 
though,  or  you'll  be  the  first  he  ever  had  that  turned  out 
unprofitable.  You'd  better  begin  at  once;  for  you'll 
come  to  the  trade  long  before  you  think  of  it ;  and  you're 
only  losing  time,  Oliver." 

Master  Bates  backed  this  advice  with  sundry  moral 
admonitions  of  his  own :  which,  being  exhausted,  he  and 
his  friend  Mr.  Dawkins  launched  into  a  glowing  descrip- 
tion of  the  numerous  pleasures  incidental  to  the  life  they 
led,  interspersed  with  a  variety  of  hints  to  Oliver  that  the 
best  thing  he  could  do,  would  be  to  secure  Fagin's  favor 
without  more  delay,  by  the  means  which  they  themselves 
had  employed  to  gain  it. 

"And  always  put  this  in  your  pipe,  Nolly,"  said  the 


208  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Dodger,  as  the  Jew  was  heard  unlocking  the  door  above, 
"  if  you  don't  take  fogies  and  tickers  " 

"  What's  the  good  of  talking  in  that  way  ?  "  interposed 
Master  Bates  :  "  he  don't  know  what  you  mean." 

"If  you  don't  take  pocket-hankechers  and  watches," 
said  the  Dodger,  reducing  his  conversation  to  the  level 
of  Oliver's  capacity,  "  some  other  cove  will ;  so  that  the 
coves  that  lose  'em  will  be  all  the  worse,  and  you'll  be 
all  the  worse  too,  and  nobody  half  a  ha'p'orth  the  better, 
except  the  chaps  wot  gets  them  —  and  you've  just  as 
good  a  right  to  them  as  they  have." 

"  To  be  sure,  to  be  sure  !  "  said  the  Jew,  who  had  en- 
tered, unsepn  by  Oliver.  "  It  all  lies  in  a  nutshell,  my 
dear  ;  in  a  nutshell,  take  the  Dodger's  word  for  it.  Ha ! 
ha !     He  understands  the  catechism  of  his  trade." 

The  old  man  rubbed  his  hands  gleefully  together,  as 
he  corroborated  the  Dodger's  reasoning  in  these  terms ; 
and  chuckled  with  delight  at  his  pupil's  proficiency. 

The  conversation  proceeded  no  farther  at  this  time, 
for  the  Jew  had  returned  home  accompanied  by  Miss 
Betsy,  and  a  gentleman  whom  Oliver  had  never  seen 
before,  but  who  was  accosted  by  the  Dodger  as  Tom 
Chitling ;  and  who,  having  lingered  on  the  stairs  to  ex- 
change a  few  gallantries  with  the  lady,  now  made  his 
appearance. 

Mr.  Chitling  was  older  in  years  than  the  Dodger  : 
having  perhaps  numbered  eighteen  winters;  but  there 
was  a  degree  of  deference  in  his  deportment  towards 
that  young  gentleman  which  seemed  to  indicate  that  he 
felt  himself  conscious  of  a  slight  inferiority  in  point  of 
genius  and  professional  acquirements.  He  had  small 
twinkling  eyes,  and  a  pock-marked  face  ;  wore  a  fur  cap, 
a  dark  corduroy  jacket,  greasy  fustian  trousers,  and  an 


OLIYER  TWIST.  209 

apron.  His  wardrobe  was,  in  truth,  rather  out  of  repair ; 
but  he  excused  himself  to  the  company  by  stating  that  his 
"  time  "  was  only  out  an  hour  before  ;  and  that,  in  con- 
sequence of  having  worn  the  regimentals  for  six  weeks 
past,  he  had  not  been  able  to  bestow  any  attention  on  his 
private  clothes.  iVIr.  Chitling  added,  with  strong  marks 
of  irritation,  that  the  new  way  of  fumigating  clothes  up 
yonder  was  infernal  unconstitutional,  for  it  burnt  holes 
in  them,  and  there  was  no  remedy  against  the  County. 
The  same  remark  he  considered  to  apply  to  the  regulation 
mode  of  cutting  the  hair :  which  he  held  to  be  decidedly 
unlawful.  Mr.  Chitling  wound  up  his  observations  by 
stating  that  he  had  not  touched  a  drop  of  anything  for 
forty-two  mortal  long  hard-working  days :  and  that  he 
"wished  he  might  be  busted  if  he  warn't  as  dry  as  a 
lime-basket." 

"  Where  do  you  think  the  gentleman  has  come  from, 
Ohver  ?  "  inquired  the  Jew,  with  a  grin,  as  the  other 
boys  put  a  bottle  of  spirits  on  the  table. 

"I  —  I  —  don't  know,  sir,"  replied  Ohver. 

"  Who's  that  ?  "  inquired  Tom  Chithng,  casting  a  con- 
temptuous look  at  Ohver. 

"  A  young  friend  of  mine,  my  dear,"  rephed  the  Jew. 

"  He's  in  luck  then,"  said  the  young  man,  with  a  mean- 
ing look  at  Fagin.  "  Never  mind  where  I  came  from, 
young  'un ;  you'll  find  your  way  there,  soon  enough,  I'll 
bet  a  crown  !  " 

At  this  sally,  the  boys  laughed.  After  some  more 
jokes  on  the  same  subject,  they  exchanged  a  few  short 
whispers  with  Fagin  ;  and  withdrew. 

After  some  words  apart  between  the  last  comer  and 
Fagin,  they  drew  their  chairs  towards  the  fire ;  and  the 
Jew,  telling  Ohver  to  come  and  sit  by  him,  led  the  con- 

VOL.  I.  14 


210  OLIVER  TWIST. 

versation  to  the  topics  most  calculated  to  interest  his 
hearers.  These  were,  the  great  advantages  of  the  trade, 
the  proficiency  of  the  Dodger,  the  amiability  of  Charley 
Bates,  and  the  liberality  of  the  Jew  himself.  At  length 
these  subjects  displayed  signs  of  being  thoroughly  ex- 
hausted ;  and  Mr.  Chitling  did  the  same  :  for  the  house 
of  correction  becomes  fatiguing  after  a  week  or  two. 
Miss  Betsy  accordingly  withdrew ;  and  left  the  party  to 
their  repose. 

From  this  day,  Oliver  was  seldom  left  alone  ;  but  was 
placed  in  almost  constant  communication  with  the  two 
boys,  who  played  the  old  game  with  the  Jew  every  day : 
whether  for  their  own  improvement  or  Oliver's,  Mr. 
Fagin  best  knew.  At  other  times  the  old  man  would 
tell  them  stories  of  robberies  he  had  committed  in  his 
younger  days :  mixed  up  with  so  much  that  was  droll 
and  curious,  that  Oliver  could  not  help  laughing  heartily, 
and  showing  that  he  was  amused  in  spite  of  all  his  better 
feelings. 

In  short,  the  wily  old  Jew  had  the  boy  in  his  toils ; 
and,  having  prepared  his  mind,  by  solitude  and  gloom,  to 
prefer  any  society  to  the  companionship  of  his  own  sad 
thouglits  in  such  a  dreary  place,  was  now  slowly  instilling 
into  his  soul  the  poison  which  he  hoped  would  blacken  it, 
and  change  its  hue  forever. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  211 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

IN    WHICH   A    NOTABLE     PLAN    IS    DISCUSSED    AND     DE- 
TERMINED    ON. 

It  was  a  cliill,  damp,  windy  night,  when  the  Jew :  but- 
toning his  great-coat  tight  round  his  shrivelled  body,  and 
pulling  the  collar  up  over  his  ears  so  as  completely  to 
obscure  the  lower  part  of  his  face :  emerged  from  his 
den.  He  paused  on  the  step  as  the  door  was  locked 
and  chained  behind  him  ;  and  having  listened  while  the 
boys  made  all  secure,  and  until  their  retreating  footsteps 
were  no  longer  audible,  slunk  down  the  street  as  quickly 
as  he  could. 

The  house  to  which  Oliver  had  been  conveyed,  was  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Whitechapel.  The  Jew  stopped  for 
an  instant  at  the  corner  of  the  street ;  and,  glancing  sus- 
piciously round,  crossed  the  road,  and  struck  off  in  the 
direction  of  Spitalfields. 

The  mud  lay  thick  upon  the  stones  :  and  a  black  mist 
hung  over  the  streets ;  the  rain  fell  sluggishly  down :  and 
everything  felt  cold  and  clammy  to  the  touch.  It  seemed 
just  the  night  when  it  befitted  such  a  being  as  the  Jew, 
to  be  abroad.  As  he  glided  stealthily  along,  creeping 
beneath  the  shelter  of  the  walls  and  doorways,  the  hid- 
eous old  man  seemed  like  some  loathsome  reptile,  engen- 
dered in  the  slime  and  darkness  through  which  he  moved : 


212  OLIVER  TWIST. 

crawling  forth,  by  night,  in  search  of  some  rich  offal  for 
a  meal. 

He  kept  on  his  course,  through  many  winding  and  nar- 
row ways,  until  he  reached  Bethnal  Green ;  then,  turn- 
ing suddenly  off  to  the  left,  he  soon  became  involved  in 
a  maze  of  the  mean  and  dirty  streets  which  abound  in 
that  close  and  densely  populated  quarter. 

The  Jew  was  evidently  too  familiar  with  the  ground 
he  traversed,  however,  to  be  at  all  bewildered,  either  by 
the  darkness  of  the  night,  or  the  intricacies  of  the  way. 
He  hurried  through  several  alleys  and  streets ;  and  at 
length  turned  into  one,  lighted  only  by  a  single  lamp  at 
the  farther  end.  At  the  door  of  a  house  in  this  street, 
he  knocked ;  and  having  exchanged  a  few  muttered 
words  with  the  person  who  opened  it,  walked  up-stairs. 

A  dog  growled  as  he  touched  the  handle  of  a  room- 
door  ;  and  a  man's  voice  demanded  who  was  there. 

"  Only  me.  Bill ;  only  me,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew, 
looking  in. 

"  Bring  in  your  body  then,"  said  Sikes.  "  Lie  down, 
you  stupid  brute  !  Don't  you  know  the  devil  when  he's 
got  a  great-coat  on  ?  " 

Apparently,  the  dog  had  been  somewhat  deceived  by 
Mr.  Fagin's  outer  garment ;  for  as  the  Jew  unbuttoned 
it,  and  threw  it  over  the  back  of  a  chair,  he  retired  to 
the  corner  from  which  he  had  risen  :  wagging  his  tail  as 
he  went,  to  show  that  he  was  as  well  satisfied  as  it  was 
in  his  nature  to  be. 

«  Well ! "  said  Sikes. 

"  Well,  my  dear,"  replied  the  Jew.     "  Ah  !  Nancy." 

The  latter  recognition  was  uttered  with  just  enough 
of  embarrassment  to  imply  a  doubt  of  its  reception ;  for 
Mr.  Fagin  and  his  young  friend  had  not  met,  since  she 


OLIVER  TWIST.  213 

had  interfered  in  behalf  of  OHver.  All  doubts  upon  the 
subject,  if  he  had  any,  were  speedily  removed  by  the 
young  lady's  behavior.  She  took  her  feet  off  the  fender; 
pushed  back  her  chair ;  and  bade  Fagin  draw  up  his, 
without  saying  more  about  it :  for  it  was  a  cold  night, 
and  no  mistake. 

"  It  IS  cold,  Nancy  dear,"  said  the  Jew,  as  he  warmed 
his  skinny  hands  over  the  fire.  "  It  seems  to  go  right 
through  one,"  added  the  old  man,  touching  his  side. 

"  It  must  be  a  piercer,  if  it  finds  its  way  through  your 
heart,"  said  Mr.  Sikes.  "  Give  him  something  to  drink, 
Nancy.  Burn  my  body,  make  haste  !  It's  enough  to 
turn  a  man  ill,  to  see  his  lean  old  carcase  shivering  in 
that  way,  like  a  ugly  ghost  just  rose  from  the  grave." 

Nancy  quickly  brought  a  bottle  from  a  cupboard,  in 
which  there  were  many :  which,  to  judge  from  the  diver- 
sity of  their  appearance,  were  filled  with  several  kinds 
of  liquids.  Sikes,  pouring  out  a  glass  of  brandy,  bade 
the  Jew  drink  it  off. 

"  Quite  enough,  quite,  thankye.  Bill,"  replied  the  Jew, 
putting  down  the  glass,  after  just  setting  his  lips  to  it. 

"  "What !  you're  afraid  of  our  getting  the  better  of  you, 
are  you  ?  "  inquked  Sikes,  fixing  his  eyes  on  the  Jew. 
«  Ugh  ! " 

With  a  hoarse  grunt  of  contempt,  Mr.  Sikes  seized 
the  glass,  and  threw  ^he  remainder  of  its  contents  into 
the  ashes  :  as  a  preparatory  ceremony  to  filling  it  again 
for  himself :  which  he  did  at  once. 

The  Jew  glanced  round  the  room,  as  his  companion 
tossed  down  the  second  glassful ;  not  in  curiosity  :  for  he 
had  seen  it  often  before  ;  but  in  a  restless  and  suspicious 
manner  which  was  habitual  to  him.  It  was  a  meanly 
furnished  apartment,  with  nothing  but  the  contents  of  the 


214  OLIVER  TWIST. 

closet  to  induce  the  belief  that  its  occupier  was  anything 
but  a  working  man  ;  and  with  no  more  suspicious  arti- 
cles displayed  to  view  than  two  or  three  heavy  bludgeons 
which  stood  in  a  corner,  and  a  "  life-preserver "  that 
hung  over  the  chimney-piece. 

"  There,"  said  Sikes  smacking  his  lips,  "  Now  I'm 
ready." 

"  For  business  ?  "  inquired  the  Jew. 

"  For  business,"  replied  Sikes  ;  "  so  say  what  you've 
got  to  say." 

"  About  the  crib  at  Chertsey,  Bill  ? "  said  the  Jew, 
drawing  his  chair  forward,  and  speaking  in  a  very  low 
voice. 

"  Yes.     Wot  about  it,"  inquired  Sikes. 

"  Ah  !  you  know  what  I  mean,  my  dear,"  said  the 
Jew.     "  He  knows  what  I  mean,  Nancy  ;  don't  he  ?" 

"  No,  he  don't,"  sneered  Mr.  Sikes.  "  Or  he  won't ; 
and  that's  the  same  thing.  Speak  out,  and  call  things 
by  their  right  names  ;  don't  sit  there,  winking  and  blink- 
ing, and  talking  to  me  in  hints :  as  if  you  warn't  the  very 
first  that  thought  about  the  robbery.     Wot  d'ye  mean  ?  " 

"  Hush,  Bill,  hush  ! "  said  the  Jew  who  had  in  vain 
attempted  to  stop  this  burst  of  indignation  ;  "  somebody 
will  hear  us,  my  dear.     Somebody  will  hear  us." 

"  Let  'em  hear  !  "  said  Sikes  ;  "  I  don't  care."  But  as 
Mr.  Sikes  did  care,  upon  reflectiom  he  dropped  his  voice 
as  he  said  the  words,  and  grew  calmer. 

"  There,  there,"  said  the  Jew  coaxingly.  "  It  was  only 
my  caution  —  nothing  more.  Now,  my  dear,  about  that 
crib  at  Chertsey ;  when  is  it  to  be  done.  Bill,  eh  ?  When 
is  it  to  be  done  ?  Such  plate,  my  dear,  such  plate  ! " 
said  the  Jew :  rubbing  his  hands,  and  elevating  his  eye- 
brows in  a  rapture  of  anticipation. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  215 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  Sikes  coldly. 

"  Not  to  be  done  at  all ! "  echoed  the  Jew,  leaning  back 
in  his  chair. 

"  No,  not  at  all,"  rejoined  Sikes.  "  At  least  it  can't 
be  a  put-up  job,  as  we  expected." 

"  Then  it  hasn't  been  properly  gone  about,"  said  the 
Jew,  turning  pale  with  anger.     "  Don't  tell  me." 

"  But  I  will  tell  you,"  retorted  Sikes.  "  Who  are  you 
that's  not  to  be  told  ?  I  tell  you  that  Toby  Crackit  has 
been  hanging  about  the  place  for  a  fortnight ;  and  he 
can't  get  one  of  the  servants  into  a  line." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  tell  me,  Bill,"  said  the  Jew ;  soften- 
ing as  the  other  grew  heated :  "  that  neither  of  the  two 
men  in  the  house  can  be  got  over  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do  mean  to  tell  you  so,"  replied  Sikes.  "  The 
old  lady  has  had  'em  these  twenty  year ;  and,  if  you 
were  to  give  'em  five  hundred  pound,  they  wouldn't  be 
in  it." 

"  But  do  you  mean  to  say,  my  dear,"  remonstrated  the 
Jew,  "  that  the  women  can't  be  got  over  ?  " 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  replied  Sikes. 

"  Not  by  flash  Toby  Crackit  ?  "  said  the  Jew  incredu- 
lously.    "  Think  what  women  are.  Bill." 

"  No  ;  not  even  by  flash  Toby  Crackit,"  replied  Sikes. 
"  He  says  he's  worn  sham  whiskers,  and  a  canary  waist- 
coat, the  whole  blessed  time  he's  been  loitering  down 
there;  and  it's  all  of  no  use." 

"  He  should  have  tried  moustachios  and  a  pair  of  mil- 
itary trousers,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew. 

"  So  he  did,"  rejoined  Sikes,  "  and  they  warn't  of  no 
more  use  than  the  other  plant." 

The  Jew  looked  very  blank  at  this  information.  After 
ruminating  for  some  minutes  with  his  chin  sunk  on  his 


216  OLIVER  TWIST. 

breast,  he  raised  his  head,  and  said,  with  a  deep  sigh, 
that  if  flash  Toby  Crackit  reported  aright,  he  feared  the 
game  was  up. 

"  And  yet,"  said  the  old  man,  dropping  his  hands  on 
his  knees,  "  it's  a  sad  thing,  my  dear,  to  lose  so  much 
when  we  had  set  our  hearts  upon  it." 

"  So  it  is,"  said  Mr.  Sikes.     "  Worse  luck ! " 

A  long  silence  ensued ;  during  which,  the  Jew  was 
plunged  in  deep  thought :  with  his  face  wrinkled  into  an 
expression  of  villany  perfectly  demoniacal.  Sikes  eyed 
him  furtively  from  time  to  time  ;  Nancy,  apparently  fear- 
ful of  irritating  the  house-breaker,  sat  with  her  eyes  fixed 
upon  the  fire,  as  if  she  had  been  deaf  to  all  that  passed. 

"Fagin,"  said  Sikes,  abruptly  breaking  the  stillness 
that  prevailed,  "  is  it  worth  fifty  shiners,  extra,  if  it's 
safely  done  from  the  outside  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  Jew,  as  suddenly  rousing  himself. 

"  Is  it  a  bargain  ?  "  inquired  Sikes. 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  yes,"  rejoined  the  Jew  ;  his  eyes  ghs- 
tening,  and  every  muscle  in  his  face  working,  with  the 
excitement  that  the  inquiry  had  awakened. 

"  Then,"  said  Sikes,  thrusting  aside  the  Jew's  hand, 
with  some  disdain,  "  let  it  come  off  as  soon  as  you  like. 
Toby  and  I  were  over  the  garden-wall  the  night  afore 
last,  sounding  the  panels  of  the  door  and  shutters.  The 
crib's  barred  up  at  night  like  a  jail ;  but  there's  one  part 
we  can  crack,  safe  and  softly." 

"  Which  is  that.  Bill  ?  "  asked  the  Jew  eagerly. 

"  Why,"  whispered  Sikes,  "  as  you  cross  the  lawn  " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  the  Jew,  bending  his  head  forward, 
with  his  eyes  almost  starting  out  of  it. 

"  Umph  !  "  cried  Sikes,  stopping  short,  as  the  girl : 
scarcely  moving  her  head :  looked  suddenly  round,  and 


OLIVER  TWIST.  217 

pointed  for  an  instant  to  the  Jew's  face.  "  Never  mind 
which  part  it  is.  You  can't  do  it  without  me,  I  know ; 
but  it's  best  to  be  on  the  safe  side  when  one  deals  with 
you." 

"  As  you  like,  my  dear,  as  you  like,"  replied  the  Jew. 
"  Is  there  no  help  wanted,  but  yours  and  Toby's  ?  " 

"  None,"  said  Sikes.  "  'Cept  a  centre-bit  and  a  boy. 
The  first  we've  both  got;  the  second  you  must  find 
us." 

"  A  boy ! "  exclaimed  the  Jew.  "  Oh !  then  it's  a 
panel,  eh  ?  " 

"  Never  mind  wot  it  is  !  "  replied  Sikes.  "  I  want  a 
boy ;  and  he  musn't  be  a  big  un.  Lord ! "  said  Mr. 
Sikes,  reflectively,  "  if  I'd  only  got  that  young  boy  of 
Ned,  the  chimbley-sweeper's  !  He  kept  him  small  on 
purpose,  and  let  him  out  by  the  job.  But  the  father 
gets  lagged ;  and  then  the  Juvenile  Delinquent  Society 
comes,  and  takes  the  boy  away  from  a  trade  where  he 
was  arning  money :  teaches  him  to  read  and  write : 
and  in  time  makes  a  'prentice  of  him.  And  so  they 
go  on,"  said  Mr.  Sikes,  his  wrath  rising  with  the  recol- 
lection of  his  wrongs,  "  so  they  go  on  ;  and,  if  they'd 
got  money  enough,  (which  it's  a  Providence  they  have 
not,)  we  shouldn't  have  half  a  dozen  boys  left  in  the 
whole  trade,  in  a  year  or  two." 

"  No  more  we  should,"  acquiesced  the  Jew,  who  had 
been  considering  during  this  speech,  and  had  only  caught 
the  last  sentence.     "  Bill !  " 

"  What  now  ?  "  inquired  Sikes. 

The  Jew  nodded  his  head  towards  Nancy,  who  was 
still  gazing  at  the  fire  ;  and  intimated,  by  a  sign,  that  he 
would  have  her  told  to  leave  the  room.  Sikes  shrugged 
his  shoulders  impatiently,  as  if  he  thought  the  precaution 


218  OLIVER  TWIST. 

unnecessary ;  but  complied,  nevertheless,  by  requesting 
Miss  Nancy  to  fetch  him  a  jug  of  beer. 

"You  don't  want  any  beer,"  said  Nancy,  folding  her 
arms,  and  retaining  her  seat  very  composedly. 

"  I  tell  you  I  do  ! "  replied  Sikes. 

"  Nonsense,"  rejoined  the  girl  coolly.  "  Go  on,  Fagin. 
I  know  what  he's  going  to  say.  Bill ;  he  needn't  mind 
me." 

The  Jew  still  hesitated.  Sikes  looked  from  one  to  the 
other  in  some  surprise. 

"  Why,  you  don't  mind  the  old  girl,  do  you,  Fagin  ?  " 
he  asked  at  length.  "  You've  known  her  long  enough  to 
trust  her,  or  the  Devil's  in  it.  She  a'n't  one  to  blab.  Are 
you,  Nancy  ?  " 

"  /  should  think  not !  "  replied  the  young  lady  :  draw- 
ing her  chair  up  to  the  table,  and  putting  her  elbows 
upon  it. 

"  No,  no,  my  dear,  I  know  you're  not,"  said  the  Jew  ; 
"  but " and  again  the  old  man  paused. 

"  But  wot  ?  "  inquired  Sikes. 

"  I  didn't  know  whether  she  mightn't  p'r'aps  be  out  of 
sorts,  you  know,  my  dear,  as  she  was  the  other  night," 
replied  the  Jew. 

At  this  confession,  Miss  Nancy  burst  into  a  loud  laugh ; 
and,  swallowing  a  glass  of  brandy,  shook  her  head  with 
an  air  of  defiance,  and  burst  into  sundry  exclamations  of 
"  Keep  the  game  a-going  !  "  "  Never  say  die !  "  and  the 
like.  These  seemed  at  once  to  have  the  effect  of  reas- 
suring both  gentlemen ;  for  the  Jew  nodded  his  head 
with  a  satisfied  air,  and  resumed  his  seat ;  as  did  Mr. 
Sikes  likewise. 

"  Now,  Fagin,"  said  Nancy  with  a  laugh.  "  Tell  Bill 
at  once,  about  Oliver !  " 


OLIVER  TWIST.  219 

"  Ha  !  you're  a  clever  one,  my  dear  ;  the  sharpest  girl 
I  ever  saw ! "  said  the  Jew,  patting  her  on  the  neck.  "  It 
was  about  Oliver  I  was  going  to  speak,  sure  enough.  Ha ! 
ha!  ha!" 

"  What  about  him  ?  "  demanded  Sikes. 

"  He's  the  boy  for  you,  my  dear,"  replied  the  Jew  in  a 
hoarse  whisper ;  laying  his  finger  on  the  side  of  his  nose ; 
and  grinning  frightfully. 

"  He  ! "  exclaimed  Sikes. 

"  Have  him,  Bill !  "  said  Nancy.  "  I  would,  if  I  was 
in  your  place.  He  mayn't  be  so  much  up,  as  any  of 
the  others ;  but  that's  not  what  you  want,  if  he's  only 
to  open  a  door  for  you.  Depend  upon  it  he's  a  safe  one, 
Bill." 

"  I  know  he  is,"  rejoined  Fagin.  "  He's  been  in 
good  training  these  last  few  weeks  ;  and  it's  time  he 
began  to  work  for  his  bread.  Besides,  the  others  are 
all  too  big." 

"Well,  he  is  just  the  size  I  want,"  said  Mr.  Sikes, 
ruminating. 

"  And  will  do  everything  you  want,  Bill,  my  dear,'* 
interposed  the  Jew ;  "  he  can't  help  himself.  That  is, 
if  you  frighten  him  enough." 

"  Frighten  him  ! "  echoed  Sikes.  "  It  '11  be  no  sham 
frightening,  mind  you.  If  there's  anything  queer  about 
him  when  we  once  get  into  the  work ;  in  for  a  penny, 
in  for  a  pound.  You  won't  see  him  alive  again,  Fagin. 
Think  of  that,  before  you  send  him.  Mark  my  words  !  " 
said  the  robber,  poising  a  crowbar :  which  he  had  di^awn 
from  under  the  bedstead. 

"  I've  thought  of  it  all,"  said  the  Jew  with  energy. 
"I've  —  I've  had  my  eye  upon  him,  my  dears,  close  — 
close.     Once  let  him  feel  that  he  is  one  of  us ;  once  fill 


220  OLIVER  TWIST. 

his  mind  with  the  idea  that  he  has  been  a  thief;  and  he's 
ours  !  Ours  for  his  Hfe.  Oho  !  It  couldn't  have  come 
about  better  ! "  The  old  man  crossed  his  arms  upon  his 
breast ;  and,  drawing  his  head  and  shoulders  into  a  heap, 
literally  hugged  himself  for  joy. 

"  Ours  !  "  said  Sikes.     "  Yours,  you  mean." 

"  Perhaps  I  do,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew,  with  a  shrill 
chuckle.     "  Mine,  if  you  like.  Bill." 

"  And  wot,"  said  Sikes,  scowling  fiercely  on  his  agree- 
able friend,  "  wot  makes  you  take  so  much  pains  about 
one  chalk-faced  kid,  when  you  know  there  are  fifty  boys 
snoozing  about  Common  Garden  every  night,  as  you 
might  pick  and  choose  from  ?  " 

"  Because  they're  of  no  use  to  me,  my  dear,"  replied 
the  Jew  with  some  confusion,  "  not  worth  the  taking. 
Their  looks  convict  'em  when  they  get  into  trouble  ;  and 
I  lose  'em  all.  With  this  boy,  properly  managed,  my 
dears,  I  could  do  what  I  couldn't  with  twenty  of  them. 
Besides,"  said  the  Jew,  recovering  his  self-possession, 
"  he  has  us  now  if  he  could  only  give  us  leg-bail  again  ; 
and  he  must  be  in  the  same  boat  with  us.  Never  mind 
how  he  came  there ;  it's  quite  enough  for  my  power  over 
him  that  he  was  in  a  robbery  ;  that's  all  I  want.  Now, 
how  much  better  this  is,  than  being  obliged  to  put  the 
poor  leetle  boy  out  of  the  way :  which  would  be  danger- 
ous :  and  we  should  lose  by  it  besides." 

"  When  is  it  to  be  done  ?  "  asked  Nancy  stopping  some 
turbulent  exclamation  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Sikes,  expres- 
sive of  the  disgust  with  which  he  received  Fagin's  affec- 
tation of  humanity. 

"  Ah,  to  be  sure,"  said  the  Jew,  "  when  is  it  to  be 
done,  Bill?" 

"  I  planned  with  Toby,  the  night  arter  to-morrow," 


OLIVER  TWIST.  221 

rejoined  Sikes  in  a  surly  voice,  "  if  he  heerd  nothing 
from  me  to  the  contrairy." 

"  Good,"  said  the  Jew  ;  "  there's  no  moon." 

"  No,"  rejoined  Sikes. 

"  It's  all  arranged  about  bringing  off  the  swag,*  is  it  ?" 
asked  the  Jew. 

Sikes  nodded. 

"  And  about " 


"  Oh,  ah,  it's  all  planned,"  rejoined  Sikes,  interrupting 
him.  "  Never  mind  particulars.  You'd  better  bring 
the  boy  here,  to-morrow  night ;  I  shall  get  off  the  stones 
an  hour  arter  daybreak.  Then  you  hold  your  tongue, 
and  keep  the  melting-pot  ready  ;  and  that's  all  you'll 
have  to  do." 

After  some  discussion,  in  which  all  three  took  an  active 
part,  it  was  decided  that  Nancy  should  repair  to  the  Jew's 
next  evening^  when  the  nisfht  had  set  in :  and  brino-  Oliver 
away  with  her  ;  Fagin  craftily  observing,  that,  if  he 
evinced  any  disinclination  to  the  task,  he  would  be  more 
willing  to  accompany  the  girl  who  had  so  recently  inter- 
fered in  his  behalf,  than  anybody  else.  It  was  also  sol- 
emnly arranged  that  poor  Oliver  should,  for  the  purposes 
of  the  contemplated  expedition,  be  unreservedly  con- 
signed to  the  care  and  custody  of  Mr.  William  Sikes ; 
and  further,  that  the  said  Sikes  should  deal  with  him  as 
he  thought  fit ;  and  should  not  be  held  responsible  by 
the  Jew  for  any  mischance  or  evil  that  might  befall  the 
boy,  or  any  punishment  with  which  it  might  be  necessary 
to  visit  him  :  it  being  understood  that,  to  render  the  com- 
pact in  this  respect  binding,  any  representations  made  by 
]\Ir.  Sikes  on  his  return  should  be  required  to  be  con- 
firmed and  corroborated,  in  all  important  particulars,  by 
the  testimony  of  flash  Toby  Crackit. 
*  Booty. 


222  OLIVER  TWIST. 

These  preliminaries  adjusted,  Mr.  Sikes  proceeded  to 
drink  brandy  at  a  furious  rate  ;  and  to  flourish  the  crow- 
bar in  an  alarming  manner ;  yelling  forth,  at  the  same 
time,  most  unmusical  snatches  of  song,  mingled  with  wild 
execrations.  At  length,  in  a  fit  of  professional  enthu- 
siasm, he  insisted  upon  producing  his  box  of  housebreak- 
ing tools  ;  which  he  had  no  sooner  stumbled  in  with,  and 
opened  for  the  purpose  of  explaining  the  nature  and 
properties  of  the  various  implements  it  contained,  and  the 
peculiar  beauties  of  their  construction  :  than  he  fell  over 
it  upon  the  floor,  and  went  to  sleep  where  he  fell. 

"  Good-night,  Nancy,"  said  the  Jew,  mufiling  himself 
up  as  before. 

"  Good-night." 

Their  eyes  met  ;  and  the  Jew  scrutinized  her,  nar- 
rowly. There  was  no  flinching  about  the  girl.  She 
was  as  true  and  earnest  in  the  matter  as  Toby  Crackit 
himself  could  be. 

The  Jew  again  bade  her  good-night ;  and,  bestowing 
a  sly  kick  upon  the  prostrate  form  of  Mr.  Sikes,  while 
her  back  was  turned,  groped  down-stairs. 

"  Always  the  way  !  "  muttered  the  Jew  to  himself  as 
he  turned  homewards.  "  The  worst  of  these  women  is, 
that  a  very  little  thing  serves  to  call  up  some  long-for- 
gotten feeling ;  and  the  best  of  them  is,  that  it  never 
lasts.  Ha  !  ha  !  The  man  against  the  child  for  a  bag 
of  gold  ! " 

Beguiling  the  time  with  these  pleasant  reflections,  Mr. 
Fagin  wended  his  way,  through  mud  and  mire,  to  his 
gloomy  abode  :  where  the  Dodger  was  sitting  up,  impa- 
tiently awaiting  his  return. 

"  Is  Oliver  a-bed  ?  I  want  to  speak  to  him,"  was  his 
first  remark  as  they  descended  the  stairs. 


OLIVEK  TWIST.  223 

"  Hours  ago,"  replied  the  Dodger,  throwing  open  a 
door.     "  Here  he  is  !  " 

The  boy  was  lying,  fast  asleep,  on  a  rude  bed  upon 
the  floor;  so  pale  with  anxiety,  and  sadness,  and  the 
closeness  of  his  prison,  that  he  looked  like  death ;  not 
death  as  it  shows  in  shroud  and  coffin,  but  in  the  guise 
it  weai's  when  Hfe  has  just  departed ;  when  a  young  and 
gentle  spirit  has,  but  an  instant,  fled  to  Heaven  :  and  the 
gross  air  of  the  world  has  not  had  time  to  breathe  upon 
the  chano-inor  dust  it  hallowed. 

"  Not  now,"  said  the  Jew,  turning  softly  away.  "  To- 
morrow.    To-morrow." 


224  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

WHEREIN    OLIVER    IS    DELIVERED    OVER    TO    MR.    WIL- 
LIAM   SIKES. 

When  Oliver  awoke  in  the  morning,  he  was  a  good 
deal  surprised  to  find  that  a  new  pair  of  shoes,  with  strong 
thick  soles,  had  been  placed  at  his  bedside  ;  and  that  his 
old  ones  had  been  removed.  At  first,  he  was  pleased 
with  the  discovery  :  hoping  that  it  might  be  the  forerun- 
ner of  his  release  ;  but  such  thoughts  were  quickly  dis- 
pelled, on  his  sitting  down  to  breakfast  along  with  the 
Jew,  who  told  him,  in  a  tone  and  manner  which  increased 
his  alarm,  that  he  was  to  be  taken  to  the  residence  of  Bill 
Sikes  that  night. 

"  To  —  to  —  stop  there,  sir  ?  "  asked  Oliver,  anxiously. 

"  No,  no,  my  dear.  Not  to  stop  there,"  replied  the 
Jew.  "  We  shouldn't  like  to  lose  you.  Don't  be  afraid, 
Oliver,  you  shall  come  back  to  us  again.  Ha  I  ha !  ha ! 
We  won't  be  so  cruel  as  to  send  you  away,  my  dear. 
Oh  no,  no!" 

The  old  man,  who  was  stooping  over  the  fire  toasting 
a  piece  of  bread,  looked  round  as  he  bantered  Oliver 
thus ;  and  chuckled,  as  if  to  show  that  he  knew  he  would 
still  be  very  glad  to  get  away  if  he  could. 

"I  suppose,"  said  the  Jew,  "fixing  his  eyes  on  Oliver, 
"  you  want  to  know  what  you're  going  to  Bill's  for  —  eh, 
my  dear  ?  " 


OLIVER   TWIST.  225 

Oliver  colored,  involuntarily,  to  find  that  the  old  thief 
had  been  reading  his  thoughts  ;  but  boldly  said,  Yes,  he 
did  want  to  know. 

"  Why,  do  you  think  ?  "  inquired  Fagin,  parrying  the 
question. 

'•  Indeed  I  don't  know,  sir,"  replied  Oliver. 

"  Bah  ! "  said  the  Jew,  turning  away  with  a  disap- 
pointed countenance  from  a  close  perusal  of  the  boy's 
face,  '■'  Wait  till  Bill  tells  you,  then." 

The  Jew  seemed  much  vexed  by  Oliver  s  not  express- 
ing any  greater  curiosity  on  the  subject ;  but  the  truth 
is,  that,  although  he  felt  very  anxious,  he  was  too  much 
confused  by  the  earnest  cunning  of  Fagin's  looks,  and 
his  own  speculations,  to  make  any  further  inquiries  just 
then.  He  had  no  other  opportunity ;  for  the  Jew  re- 
mained very  surly  and  silent  till  night :  when  he  pre- 
pared to  go  abroad. 

•'•  You  may  burn  a  candle,"  said  the  Jew,  putting  one 
upon  the  table.  "  And  here's  a  book  for  you  to  read,  till 
they  come  to  fetch  you.     Good-night ! " 

"  Good-night ! "  replied  Oliver,  softly. 

The  Jew  walked  to  the  door :  looking  over  his  shoulder 
at  the  boy  as  he  went.  Suddenly  stopping,  he  called  him 
by  his  name. 

OHver  looked  up  ;  the  Jew,  pointing  to  the  candle, 
motioned  him  to  light  it.  He  did  so  ;  and,  as  he  placed 
the  candlestick  upon  the  table,  saAv  that  the  Jew  was  gaz- 
ing fixedly  at  hin[%  with  lowering  and  contracted  brows, 
from  the  dark  end  of  the  room. 

"  Take  heed,  Oliver  !  take  heed  !  "  said  the  old  man, 
shaking  his  right  hand  before  him  in  a  warning  manner. 
"  He's  a  rough  man,  and  thinks  nothing  of  blood  when 
his  own  is  up.     Whatever  falls  out,  say  nothing ;  and  do 

VOL.  I.  15 


226  OLIVER  TWIST. 

what  he  bids  you.  Mmd  ! "  Placing  a  strong  emphasis 
on  the  last  word,  he  suffered  his  features  gradually  to 
resolve  themselves  into  a  ghastly  grin ;  and,  nodding  his 
head,  left  the  room. 

Oliver  leaned  his  head  upon  his  hand  when  the  old 
man  disappeared  ;  and  pondered,  with  a  trembling  heart, 
on  the  words  he  had  just  heard.  The  more  he  thought 
of  the  Jew's  admonition,  the  more  he  was  at  a  loss  to 
divine  its  real  purpose  and  meaning.  He  could  think  of 
no  bad  object  to  be  obtained  by  sending  him  to  Sikes : 
which  would  not  be  equally  well  answered  by  his  remain- 
ing with  Fagin  ;  and  after  meditating  for  a  long  time, 
concluded  that  he  had  been  selected  to  perform  some 
ordinary  menial  offices  for  the  house-breaker,  until  an- 
other boy,  better  suited  for  his  purpose,  could  be  engaged. 
He  was  too  well  accustomed  to  suffering,  and  had  suffered 
too  much  where  he  was,  to  bewail  the  prospect  of  change 
very  severely.  He  remained  lost  in  thought  for  some 
minutes ;  and  then,  with  a  heavy  sigh,  snuffed  the  can- 
dle :  and  taking  up  the  book  which  the  Jew  had  left  with 
him,  began  to  read. 

He  turned  over  the  leaves.  Carelessly  at  first ;  but, 
lighting  on  a  passage  which  attracted  his  attention,  he 
soon  became  intent  upon  the  volume.  It  was  a  history 
of  the  lives  and  trials  of  great  criminals  ;  and  the  pages 
were  soiled  and  thumbed  with  use.  Here,  he  read  of 
dreadful  crimes  that  made  the  blood  run  cold ;  of  secret 
murders  that  had  been  committed  by  tjhe  lonely  wayside : 
and  bodies  hidden  from  the  eye  of  man  in  deep  pits  and 
wells  :  which  would  not  keep  them  down,  deep  as  they 
were,  but  had  yielded  them  up  at  last,  after  many  years, 
and  so  maddened  the  murderers  with  the  sight,  that  in 
their  horror  they  had  confessed  their  guilt,  and  yelled  for 


OLIVER  TWIST.  227 

the  gibbet  to  end  tbeir  agony.  Here,  too,  he  read  of 
men  who,  lying  in  their  beds  at  dead  of  night,  had  been 
tempted  (as  they  said)  and  led  on,  by  their  own  bad 
thoughts,  to  such  dreadful  bloodshed  as  it  made  the  flesh 
creep,  and  the  limbs  quail,  to  think  of  The  terrible  de- 
scriptions were  so  real  and  vivid,  that  the  sallow  pages 
seemed  to  turn  red  with  gore ;  and  the  words  upon  them, 
to  be  sounded  in  his  ears,  as  if  they  were  whispered,  in 
hollow  murmurs,  by  the  spirits  of  the  dead. 

In  a  paroxysm  of  fear,  the  boy  closed  the  book,  and 
thrust  it  from  him.  Then,  falling  upon  his  knees,  he 
prayed  Heaven  to  spare  him  from  such  deeds ;  and 
rather  to  will  that  he  should  die  at  once,  than  be  reserved 
for  crimes  so  fearful  and  appalling.  By  degrees,  he  grew 
more  calm ;  and  besought,  in  a  low  and  broken  voice, 
that  he  might  be  rescued  from  his  present  dangers  ;  and 
that  if  any  aid  were  to  be  raised  up  for  a  poor  out- 
cast boy,  who  had  never  known  the  love  of  friends  or 
kmdred,  it  might  come  to  liim  now  :  when,  desolate  and 
deserted,  he  stood  alone  in  the  midst  of  wickedness  and 
guilt. 

He  had  concluded  his  prayer,  but  still  remained  with 
his  head  buried  in  his  hands,  when  a  rustling  noise 
aroused  him. 

"  What's  that ! "  he  cried,  starting  up,  and  catchuig 
sight  of  a  figure  standing  by  the  door.     "  Who's  there  ?  " 

"  Me.     Only  me,"  replied  a  tremulous  voice. 

Oliver  raised  the  candle  above  his  head :  and  looked 
towards  the  door.     It  was  Nancy. 

"  Put  down  the  light,"  said  the  girl,  turning  away  her 
head.     "  It  hurts  my  eyes." 

Oliver  saw  that  she  was  very  pale;  and  gently  in- 
quired if  she  were  ill.     The  girl  threw  herself  into  a 


228  OLIVER  TWIST. 

chair,  with  her  back  towards  him :  and  wrung  her  hands ; 
but  made  no  re^^ly. 

"  God  forgive  me  !  "  she  cried  after  a  while,  "  I  never 
thought  of  this." 

"  Has  anything  happened  ?  "  asked  Oliver.  "  Can  I 
help  you  ?     I  will  if  I  can.     I  will,  indeed." 

She  rocked  herself  to  and  fro ;  caught  her  throat ; 
and,  uttering  a  gurgling  sound,  struggled  and  gasped  for 
breath. 

"Nancy  !  "  cried  Oliver,  "  What  is  it  ?  " 

The  girl  beat  her  hands  upon  her  knees,  and  her  feet 
upon  the  ground ;  and,  suddenly  stopping,  drew  her 
shawl  close  round  her :  and  shivered  with  cold. 

Oliver  stirred  the  fire.  Drawing  her  chair  close  to  it, 
she  sat  there,  for  a  little  time,  without  speaking ;  but  at 
length  she  raised  her  head,  and  looked  round. 

"  I  don't  know  what  comes  over  me  sometimes,"  said 
she,  affecting  to  busy  herself  in  arranging  her  dress  ; 
"  it's  this  damp,  dirty  room,  I  think.  Now,  Nolly,  dear, 
are  you  ready  ?  " 

"  Am  I  to  go  with  you  ?  "  asked  Oliver. 

"  Yes ;  I  have  come  from  Bill,"  replied  the  girl.  "  You 
are  to  go  with  me." 

"  What  for  ?  "  said  Oliver,  recoiling. 

"  What  for ! "  echoed  the  girl,  raising  her  eyes,  and 
averting  them  again,  the  moment  they  encountered  the 
boy's  face.     "  Oh  !  for  no  harm." 

"  I  don't  believe  it,"  said  Oliver :  who  had  watched  her 
closely. 

"  Have  it  your  own  way,"  rejoined  the  girl,  affecting 
to  laugh.     "  For  no  good,  then." 

Oliver  could  see  that  he  had  some  power  over  the 
girl's  better  feelings ;  and,  for  an  instant,  thought  of  ap- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  229 

pealing  to  her  compassion  for  his  helpless  state.  But, 
then,  the  thought  darted  across  his  mind  that  it  was 
barely  eleven  o'clock ;  and  that  many  people  were  still 
in  the  streets  :  of  whom  surely  some  might  be  found  to 
give  credence  to  liis  tale.  As  the  reflection  occurred 
to  him,  he  stepped  forward :  and  said,  somewhat  hastily, 
that  he  was  ready. 

Neither  his  brief  consideration,  nor  its  purport,  was 
lost  on  his  companion.  She  eyed  him  narrowly,  while 
he  spoke  ;  and  cast  upon  him  a  look  of  intelligence 
which  sufficiently  showed  that  she  guessed  what  had 
been  passing  in  his  thoughts. 

"  Hush  ! "  said  the  girl,  stooping  over  him,  and  point- 
ing to  the  door  as  she  looked  cautiously  round.  "  You 
can't  help  yourself.  I  have  tried  hard  for  you,  but  all 
to  no  purpose.  You  are  hedged  round  and  round  ;  and 
if  ever  you  are  to  get  loose  from  here,  this  is  not  the 
time." 

Struck  by  the  energy  of  her  manner,  Oliver  looked 
up  in  her  face  with  great  surprise.  She  seemed  to  speak 
the  truth ;  her  countenance  was  white  and  agitated  ;  and 
she  trembled  with  very  earnestness. 

"  I  have  saved  you  from  being  ill-used  once :  and  I 
will  again :  and  I  do  now,"  continued  the  girl  aloud ; 
"  for  those  who  would  have  fetched  you,  if  I  had  not, 
would  have  been  far  more  rough  than  me.  I  have 
promised  for  your  being  quiet  and  silent :  if  you  are  not, 
you  will  only  do  harm  to  yourself  and  me  too :  and  per- 
haps be  my  death.  See  here !  I  have  borne  all  this  for 
you  already,  as  true  as  God  sees  me  show  it." 

She  pointed,  hastily,  to  some  livid  bruises  on  her  neck 
and  arms  ;  and  continued,  with  great  rapidity, 

"  Remember  this  !     And  don't  let  me  suffer  more  for 


230  OLIVER  TWIST. 

you,  just  now.  If  I  could  help  you,  I  would;  but  I 
have  not  the  power.  They  don't  mean  to  harm  you ; 
and  whatever  they  make  you  do,  is  no  fault  of  yours. 
Hush !  every  word  from  you  is  a  blow  for  me.  Give 
me  your  hand.     Make  haste  !     Your  hand  !  " 

She  caught  the  hand  which  Oliver  instinctively  placed 
in  hers  ;  and,  blowing  out  the  light,  drew  him  after  her 
up  the  stairs.  The  door  was  opened,  quickly,  by  some 
one  shrouded  in  the  darkness;  and  was  as  quickly  closed, 
when  they  had  passed  out.  A  hackney-cabriolet  was  in 
waiting;  with  the  same  vehemence  which  she  had  ex- 
hibited in  addressing  Oliver,  the  girl  pulled  him  in  with 
her ;  and  drew  the  curtains  close.  The  driver  wanted 
no  directions,  but  lashed  his  horse  into  full  speed,  with- 
out the  delay  of  an  instant. 

The  girl  still  held  Oliver  fast  by  the  hand ;  and  con- 
tinued to  pour  into  his  ear,  the  warnings  and  assurances 
she  had  already  imparted.  All  was  so  quick  and  hur- 
ried, that  he  had  scarcely  time  to  recollect  where  he  was, 
or  how  he  came  there,  when  the  carriage  stopped  at  the 
house  to  which  the  Jew's  steps  had  been  directed,  on  the 
previous  evening. 

For  one  brief  moment,  Oliver  cast  a  hurried  glance 
along  the  empty  street ;  and  a  cry  for  help  hung  upon  his 
lips.  But  the  girl's  voice  was  in  his  ear :  beseeching 
him  in  such  tones  of  agony  to  remember  her :  that  he 
had  not  the  heart  to  utter  it.  While  he  hesitated,  the 
opportunity  was  gone ;  for  he  was  already  in  the  house  ; 
and  the  door  was  shut. 

"  This  way,"  said  the  girl,  releasing  her  hold  for  the 
first  time.     "  Bill !  " 

"  Hallo  ! "  replied  Sikes :  appearing  at  the  head  of  the 
stairs,  with  a  caudle.  "  Oh !  that's  the  time  of  day. 
Come  on!" 


OLIVER  TWIST.  231 

This  was  a  very  strong  expression  of  approbation : 
an  uncommonly  hearty  welcome  :  from  a  person  of  Mr. 
Sikes's  temperament.  Nancy,  appearing  much  gratified 
thereby,  saluted  him  cordially. 

"  Bullseye  's  gone  home  with  Tom,"  observed  Sikes,  as 
he  Hghted  them  up.     "He'd  have  been  in  the  way." 

"  That's  right,"  rejoined  Nancy. 

"  So  you've  got  the  kid,"  said  Sikes,  when  they  had 
all  reached  the  room :  closing  the  door  as  he  spoke. 

"  Yes,  here  he  is,"  replied  Nancy. 

"  Did  he  come  quiet  ?  "  inquired  Sikes. 

"  Like  a  lamb,"  rejoined  Nancy. 

"  I'm  glad  to  hear  it,"  said  Sikes,  looking  grimly  at 
Oliver ;  "  for  the  sake  of  his  young  carcase :  as  would 
otherways  have  suffered  for  it.  Come  here,  young  un  ; 
and  let  me  read  you  a  lectur',  which  is  as  well  got  over 
at  once." 

Thus  addressing  his  new  pupil,  Mr.  Sikes  pulled  off 
Ohver's  cap  and  threw  it  into  a  corner ;  and  then,  taking 
him  by  the  shoulder,  sat  himself  down  by  the  table,  and 
stood  the  boy  in  front  of  him. 

"  Now,  first :  do  you  know  wot  this  is  ? "  inquired 
Sikes,  taking  up  a  pocket-pistol  which  lay  on  the  table. 

Oliver  replied  in  the  afiirmative. 

"  Well  then,  look  here,"  continued  Sikes.  "  This  is 
powder ;  that  'ere  's  a  bullet ;  and  this  is  a  little  bit  of  a 
old  hat  for  waddin'." 

Oliver  murmured  his  comprehension  of  the  different 
bodies  referred  to  ;  and  Mr.  Sikes  proceeded  to  load  the 
pistol,  with  great  nicety  and  deliberation. 

"Now  it's  loaded,"  said  Mr.  Sikes,  when  he  had 
finished. 

"  Yes,  I  see  it  is,  sir,"  replied  Oliver. 


232  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Well,"  said  the  robber,  grasping  Oliver's  wrist 
tightly  :  and  putting  the  barrel  so  close  to  his  temple 
that  they  touched ;  at  which  moment  the  boy  could  not 
repress  a  start ;  "  if  you  speak  a  word  when  you're  out 
o'  doors  with  me,  except  when  I  speak  to  you,  that  load- 
ing will  be  in  your  head  without  notice.  So,  if  you  do 
make  up  your  mind  to  speak  without  leave,  say  your 
prayers  first." 

Having  bestowed  a  scowl  upon  the  object  of  this  warn- 
ing, to  increase  its  effect,  Mr.  Sikes  continued. 

"  As  near  as  I  know,  there  isn't  anybody  as  would  be 
asking  very  partickler  arter  you,  if  you  was  disposed  of; 
so  I  needn't  take  this  devil-and-all  of  trouble  to  explain 
matters  to  you,  if  it  warn't  for  your  own  good.  D'ye 
hear  me  ?  " 

"  The  short  and  the  long  of  what  you  mean,"  said  Nan- 
cy: speaking  very  emphatically:  and  slightly  frowning  at 
Oliver  as  if  to  bespeak  his  serious  attention  to  her 
words,  "  is,  that  if  you're  crossed  by  him  in  this  job 
you  have  on  hand,  you'll  prevent  his  ever  telling  tales 
afterwards  by  shooting  him  through  the  head ;  and  will 
take  your  chance  of  swinging  for  it,  as  you  do  for  a  great 
many  other  things  in  the  way  of  business,  every  month 
of  your  life." 

"  That's  it  !  "  observed  Mr.  Sikes,  approvingly  ; 
"women  can  always  put  things  in  fewest  words.  Ex- 
cept when  it's  blowing  up  ;  and  then  they  lengthens  it 
out.  And  now  that  he's  thoroughly  up  to  it,  let's  have 
some  supper,  and  get  a  snooze  before  starting." 

In  pursuance  of  this  request,  Nancy  quickly  laid  the 
cloth ;  and,  disappearing  for  a  few  minutes,  presently  re- 
turned with  a  pot  of  porter  and  a  dish  of  sheep's  heads  : 
which  gave  occasion  to  several  pleasant  witticisms  on  the 


OLIVEK  TWIST.  233 

part  of  Mr.  Sikes  :  founded  upon  the  singular  coinci- 
dence of  "  jemmies  "  being  a  cant  name,  common  to 
them  :  and  also  to  an  ingenious  implement  much  used 
in  his  profession.  Indeed,  the  worthy  gentleman,  stim- 
ulated perhaps  by  the  immediate  prospect  of  being  in 
active  service,  was  in  great  spirits  and  good  humor ;  in 
proof  whereof,  it  may  be  here  remarked,  that  he  humor- 
ously di'ank  all  the  beer  at  a  draught ;  and  did  not  utter, 
on  a  rough  calculation,  more  than  fourscore  oaths  during 
the  whole  progress  of  the  meal. 

Supper  being  ended  —  it  may  be  easily  conceived  that 
Oliver  had  no  great  appetite  for  it  —  Mr.  Sikes  disposed 
of  a  couple  of  glasses  of  spirits  and  water :  and  threw 
himself  upon  the  bed ;  ordering  Nancy,  with  many  im- 
precations in  case  of  failure,  to  call  him  at  five  precisely. 
Oliver  stretched  himself  in  his  clothes,  by  command  of 
the  same  authority,  on  a  mattress  upon  the  floor ;  and 
the  girl  mending  the  fire,  sat  before  it,  in  readiness  to 
rouse  them  at  the  appointed  time. 

For  a  long  time  Oliver  lay  awake  ;  thinking  it  not 
impossible  that  Nancy  might  seek  that  opportunity  of 
whispering  some  further  advice  ;  but  the  girl  sat  brood- 
ing over  the  fire,  without  moving,  save  now  and  then  to 
trim  the  light.  Weary  with  watching  and  anxiety,  he 
at  length  fell  asleep. 

When  he  awoke,  the  table  was  covered  with  tea-things ; 
and  Sikes  was  thrusting  various  articles  into  the  pockets 
of  his  great-coat,  which  hung  over  the  back  of  a  chair  : 
while  Nancy  was  busily  engaged  in  preparing  breakfast. 
It  was  not  yet  daylight ;  for  the  candle  was  still  burn- 
ing ;  and  it  was  quite  dark  outside.  A  sharp  rain,  too, 
was  beating  against  the  window-panes  ;  and  the  sky 
looked  black  and  cloudy. 


234  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Now,  then  ! "  growled  Sikes,  as  Oliver  started  up  ; 
"  half-past  five  !  Look  sharp,  or  you'll  get  no  breakfast ; 
for  it's  late  as  it  is." 

Oliver  was  not  long  in  making  his  toilet ;  and,  having 
taken  some  breakfast,  replied  to  a  surly  inquiry  from 
Sikes  by  saying  that  he  was  quite  ready. 

Nancy,  scarcely  looking  at  the  boy,  threw  him  a  hand- 
kerchief to  tie  round  his  throat ;  and  Sikes  gave  him  a 
large  rough  cape  to  button  over  his  shoulders.  Thus 
attired,  he  gave  his  hand  to  the  robber,  who,  merely 
pausing  to  show  him,  with  a  menacing  gesture,  that  he 
had  the  pistol  in  a  side-pocket  of  his  great-coat,  clasped 
it  firmly  in  his  ;  and,  exchanging  a  farewell  with  Nancy, 
led  him  away. 

Oliver  turned,  for  an  instant,  when  they  reached  the 
door ;  in  the  hope  of  meeting  a  look  from  the  girl.  But 
she  had  resumed  her  old  seat  in  front  of  the  fire ;  and 
sat,  perfectly  motionless,  before  it. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  235 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


THE    EXPEDITION. 


It  was  a  cheerless  morning  when  they  got  into  the 
street ;  blowing  and  raining  hard ;  and  the  clouds  look- 
ing dull  and  stormy.  The  night  had  been  very  wet ;  for 
large  pools  of  water  had  collected  in  the  road  :  and  the 
kennels  were  overflowing.  There  was  a  faint  glimmer- 
ing of  the  coming  day  in  the  sky ;  but  it  rather  aggra- 
vated than  relieved  the  gloom  of  the  scene  :  the  sombre 
light  only  serving  to  pale  that,  which  the  street-lamps 
afforded  :  without  shedding  any  warmer  or  brighter  tints 
upon  the  wet  house-tops,  and  dreary  streets.  There  ap- 
peared to  be  nobody  stirring  in  that  quarter  of  the  town ; 
for  the  windows  of  the  houses  were  all  closely  shut :  and 
the  streets  through  which  they  passed,  were  noiseless  and 
empty. 

By  the  time  they  had  turned  into  the  Bethnal  Green- 
road,  the  day  had  fairly  begun  to  break.  Many  of  the 
lamps  were  already  extinguished ;  a  few  country  wagons 
were  slowly  toiling  on,  towards  London  ;  and  now  and 
then,  a  stage-coach,  covered  with  mud,  rattled  briskly  by: 
the  driver  bestowing,  as  he  passed,  an  admonitory  lash 
upon  the  heavy  wagoner,  who,  by  keeping  on  the  wrong 
side  of  the  road,  had  endangered  his  arriving  at  the 
office,  a  quarter  of  a  minute  after  his  time.  The  public- 
houses,  with  gas-lights  burning  inside,  were  already  open. 


236  OLIVER  TWIST. 

By  degrees  other  shops  began  to  be  unclosed  ;  and  a  few 
scattered  people  were  met  with.  Then,  came  straggling 
groups  of  laborers  going  to  their  work ;  then,  men  and 
women  with  fish-baskets  on  their  heads  ;  donkey-carts 
laden  with  vegetables  ;  chaise-carts  filled  with  live-stock 
or  whole  carcasses  of  meat ;  milkwomen  with  pails  ;  and 
an  unbroken  concourse  of  people,  trudging  out  with 
various  supplies  to  the  eastern  suburbs  of  the  town.  As 
they  approached  the  City,  the  noise  and  traffic  gradually 
increased ;  and  when  they  threaded  the  streets  between 
Shoreditch  and  Smithfield,  it  had  swelled  into  a  roar  of 
sound  and  bustle.  It  was  as  light  as  it  was  likely  to  be, 
till  night  came  on  again  ;  and  the  busy  morning  of  half 
the  London  population  had  begun. 

Turning  down  Sun-street  and  Crown-street,  and  cross- 
ing Finsbury-square,  Mr.  Sikes  struck,  by  way  of  Chis- 
well-street,  into  Barbican ;  thence  into  Long-lane  ;  and 
so  into  Smithfield  ;  from  which  latter  place,  arose  a 
tumult  of  discordant  sounds  that  filled  Oliver  Twist  with 
surprise  and  amazement. 

It  was  market-morning.  The  ground  was  covered, 
nearly  ankle-deep,  with  filth  and  mire ;  and  a  thick 
steam,  perpetually  rising  from  the  reeking  bodies  of  the 
cattle,  and  mingling  with  the  fog,  which  seemed  to  rest 
upon  the  chimney-tops,  hung  heavily  above.  All  the 
pens  in  the  centre  of  the  large  area :  and  as  many  tem- 
porary ones  as  could  be  crowded  into  the  vacant  space  : 
were  filled  with  sheep ;  tied  up  to  posts  by  the  gutter 
side  were  long  lines  of  beasts  and  oxen,  three  or  four 
deep.  Countrymen,  butchers,  drovers,  hawkers,  boys, 
thieves,  idlers,  and  vagabonds  of  every  low  grade,  were 
mingled  together  in  a  dense  mass  ;  the  whistling  of 
drovers,  the  barking  of  dogs,  the  bellowing  and  plung- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  237 

ing  of  oxen,  the  bleating  of  sheep,  the  grunting  and 
squeaking  of  pigs ;  the  cries  of  hawkers,  the  shouts, 
oaths,  and  quarrelling  on  all  sides ;  the  ringing  of  bells 
and  roar  of  voices,  that  issued  from  every  public-house  ; 
the  crowding,  pushing,  driving,  beating,  whooping,  and 
yelling ;  the  hideous  and  discordant  din  that  resounded 
from  every  comer  of  the  market ;  and  the  unwashed, 
unshaven,  squalid,  and  dirty  figures  constantly  running 
to  and  fro,  and  bursting  in  and  out  of  the  throng ;  ren- 
dered it  a  stunning  and  bewildering  scene,  which  quite 
confounded  the  senses. 

Mr.  Sikes,  dragging  Oliver  after  him,  elbowed  his  way 
through  the  thickest  of  the  crowd ;  and  bestowed  very 
little  attention  on  the  numerous  sights  and  sounds  which 
so  astonished  the  boy.  He  nodded,  twice  or  thrice  to  a 
passing  friend ;  and,  resisting  as  many  invitations  to  take 
a  morning  dram,  pressed  steadily  onward,  until  they  were 
clear  of  the  turmoil,  and  had  made  their  way  through 
Hosier-lane  into  Holborn. 

"  'Now,  young  un ! "  said  Sikes,  looking  up  at  the 
clock  of  St.  Andrew's  church,  "  hard  upon  seven !  you 
must  step  out.  Come,  don't  lag  behind  already.  Lazy- 
legs  ! " 

Mr.  Sikes  accompanied  this  speech  with  a  jerk  at  bis 
little  companion's  wrist ;  Oliver,  quickening  his  pace  into 
a  kind  of  trot,  between  a  fast  walk  and  a  run,  kept  up 
with  the  rapid  strides  of  the  house-breaker  as  well  as  he 
could. 

They  held  their  course  at  this  rate,  until  they  had 
passed  Hyde  Park  corner,  and  were  on  their  way  to 
Kensington :  when  Sikes  relaxed  his  pace,  until  an 
empty  cart,  which  was  at  some  little  distance  behind, 
came  up.     Seeing  "  Hounslow  "  written  on  it,  he  asked 


238  OLIVER  TWIST. 

the  driver  with  as  much  civility  as  he  could  assume,  if 
he  would  give  them  a  lift  as  far  as  Isleworth. 

"  Jump  up,"  said  the  man.     "  Is  that  your  boy  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  he's  my  boy,"  replied  Sikes,  looking  hard  at 
Oliver,  and  putting  his  hand  abstractedly  into  the  pocket 
where  the  pistol  was. 

"Your  father  walks  rather  too  quick  for  you,  don't 
he,  my  man  ?  "  inquired  the  driver :  seeing  that  Oliver 
was  out  of  breath. 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  repHed  Sikes,  interposing.  "  He's 
used  to  it.  Here,  take  hold  of  my  hand,  Ned.  In  with 
you!" 

Thus  addressing  Oliver,  he  helped  him  into  the  cart ; 
and  the  driver,  pointing  to  a  heap  of  sacks,  told  him  to 
lie  down  there,  and  rest  himself. 

As  they  passed  the  different  mile-stones,  Oliver  won- 
dered, more  and  more,  where  his  companion  meant  to 
take  him.  Kensington,  Hammersmith,  Chiswick,  Kew 
Bridge,  Brentford,  were  all  passed ;  and  yet  they  went 
on  as  steadily  as  if  they  had  only  just  begun  their  jour- 
ney. At  length,  they  came  to  a  public-house  called  the 
Coach  and  Horses  :  a  httle  way  beyond  which,  another 
road  appeared  to  turn  off.     And  here,  the  cart  stopped. 

Sikes  dismounted  with  great  precipitation :  holding 
Oliver  by  the  hand  all  the  while  ;  and  lifting  him  down 
directly,  bestowed  a  furious  look  upon  him,  and  rapped 
the  side-pocket  with  his  fist,  in  a  very  significant  man- 
ner. 

"  Good-by,  boy,"  said  the  man. 

"  He's  sulky,"  replied  Sikes,  giving  him  a  shake ; 
"  he's  sulky.     A  young  dog !     Don't  mind  him." 

"  Not  I ! "  rejoined  the  other,  getting  into  his  cart. 
"It's  a  fine  day,  after  all."     And  he  drove  away. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  239 

Sikes  waited  until  he  had  fairly  gone ;  and  then,  tell- 
ing Oliver  he  might  look  about  him  if  he  wanted,  once 
again  led  him  onward  on  his  journey. 

They  turned  round  to  the  left,  a  short  way  past  the 
public-house  ;  and  then,  taking  a  right-hand  road,  walked 
on  for  a  long  time  :  passing  many  large  gardens  and 
gentlemen's  houses  on  both  sides  of  the  way  :  and  stop- 
ping for  nothing  but  a  little  beer,  until  they  reached  a 
town.  Here  against  the  wall  of  a  house,  Oliver  saw, 
written  up  in  pretty  large  letters,  "  Hampton."  They 
lingered  about,  in  the  fields,  for  some  hours.  At  length, 
they  came  back  into  the  town ;  and  turning  into  an  old 
public-house  with  a  defaced  sign-board,  ordered  some 
dinner  by  the  kitchen-fire. 

The  kitchen  was  an  old,  low-roofed  room ;  with  a  great 
beam  across  the  middle  of  the  ceiling  :  and  benches,  with 
high  backs  to  them,  by  the  fire  ;  on  which  were  seated 
several  rough  men  in  smock-frocks,  drinking  and  smok- 
ing. They  took  no  notice  of  Oliver,  and  very  little  of 
Sikes  ;  and,  as  Sikes  took  very  little  notice  of  them,  he 
and  his  young  comrade  sat  in  a  corner  by  themselves, 
without  being  much  troubled  by  their  company. 

They  had  some  cold  meat  for  dinner  ;  and  sat  here  so 
long  after  it,  while  Mr.  Sikes  indulged  himself  with  three 
or  four  pipes,  that  Ohver  began  to  feel  quite  certain  they 
were  not  going  any  farther.  Being  much  tired  with  the 
walk,  and  getting  up  so  early,  he  dozed  a  little  at  first ; 
and  then,  quite  overpowered  by  fatigue  and  the  fumes 
of  the  tobacco,  fell  asleep. 

It  was  quite  dark  when  he  was  awakened  by  a  push 
from  Sikes.  Rousing  himself  sufficiently  to  sit  up  and 
look  about  him,  he  found  that  Worthy  in  close  fellowship 
and  communication  with  a  laboring  man,  over  a  pint  of 
ale. 


240  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  So,  you're  going  on  to  Lower  Halliford,  are  you  ?  " 
inquired  Sikes. 

"  Yes,  I  am,"  replied  the  man,  who  seemed  a  httle  the 
worse:  or  better,  as  the  case  might  be:  for  drinking; 
"  and  not  slow  about  it  neither.  My  horse  hasn't  got  a 
load  behind  him  going  back,  as  he  had  coming  up  in  the 
mornin' ;  and  he  won't  be  long  a-doing  of  it.  Here's 
luck  to  him !     Ecod  !  he's  a  good  un  !  " 

"  Could  yo-u  give  my  boy  and  me  a  lift  as  far  as 
there  ?  "  demanded  Sikes,  pushing  the  ale  towards  his 
new  friend. 

"If  you're  going  directly,  I  can,"  replied  the  man, 
looking  out  of  the  pot.     "  Are  you  going  to  Halhford  ?  " 

"  Going  on  to  Shepperton,"  rephed  Sikes. 

'*I'm  your  man,  as  far  as  I  go,"  replied  the  other. 
"Is  all  paid,  Becky?" 

"  Yes,  the  other  gentleman's  paid,"  replied  the  girl. 

"  I  say  ! "  said  the  man,  with  tipsy  gravity  ;  "  that 
won't  do,  you  know." 

"  Why  not  ?  "  rejoined  Sikes.  "  You're  a-going  to  ac- 
commodate us ;  and  wot's  to  prevent  my  standing  treat, 
for  a  pint  or  so,  in  return  ?  " 

The  stranger  reflected  upon  this  argument,  with  a 
very  profound  face  ;  and  having  done  so,  seized  Sikes 
by  the  hand :  and  declared  he  was  a  real  good  fellow. 
To  which  Mr.  Sikes  replied,  he  was  joking ;  as,  if  he 
had  been  sober,  there  would  have  been  strong  reason  to 
suppose  he  was. 

After  the  exchange  of  a  few  more  compliments,  they 
bade  the  company  good-night,  and  went  out ;  the .  girl 
gathering  up  the  pots  and  glasses  as  they  did  so  :  and 
lounging  out  to  the  door,  with  her  hands  full,  to  see  the 
party  start. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  241 

The  horse,  whose  health  had  been  drunk  in  his  ab- 
sence, was  standing  outside  :  ready  harnessed  to  the  cart. 
OHver  and  Sikes  got  in  without  any  further  ceremony ; 
and  the  man  to  whom  he  belonged,  having  lingered  for  a 
minute  or  two  "  to  bear  him  up,"  and  to  defy  the  hostler 
and  the  world  to  produce  his  equal,  mounted  also.  Then, 
the  hostler  was  told  to  give  the  horse  his  head ;  and,  his 
head  being  given  to  him,  he  made  a  very  unpleasant  use 
of  it :  tossing  it  into  the  air  with  great  disdain,  and  run- 
ning into  the  parlor  windows  over  the  way ;  after  perform- 
ing these  feats,  and  supporting  himself  for  a  short  time 
on  his  hind  legs,  he  started  off  at  great  speed,  and  rattled 
out  of  the  town  right  gallantly. 

The  night  was  very  dark.  A  damp  mist  rose  from 
the  river,  and  the  marshy  ground  about ;  and  spread  it- 
self over  the  dreary  fields.  It  was  piercing  cold,  too ; 
all  was  gloomy  and  black.  Not  a  word  was  spoken  ;  for 
the  driver  had  grown  sleepy  ;  and  Sikes  was  in  no  mood 
to  lead  him  into  conversation.  Oliver  sat  huddled  to- 
gether, in  a  corner  of  the  cart ;  bewildered  with  alarm 
and  apprehension;  and  figuring  strange  objects  in  the 
gaunt  trees,  whose  branches  waved  grimly  to  and  fro,  as 
if  in  some  fantastic  joy  at  the  desolation  of  the  scene. 

As  they  passed  Sunbury  church,  the  clock  struck 
seven.  There  was  a  light  in  the  ferry -house  window 
opposite:  which  streamed  across  the  road:  and  threw 
into  more  sombre  shadow  a  dark  yew-tree  with  graves 
beneath  it.  There  was  a  dull  sound  of  falling  water  not 
far  off;  and  the  leaves  of  the  old  tree  stirred  gently  in 
the  night-wind.  It  seemed  like  quiet  music  for  the  re- 
pose of  the  dead. 

Sunbury  was  passed  through  ;  and  they  came  again 
into  the  lonely  road.     Two  or  three  miles  more  ;  and  the 

VOL.   I.  16 


242  OLIVER  TWIST. 

cart  stopped.  Sikes  alighted ;  and,  taking  Oliver  by  the 
hand,  they  once  again  walked  on. 

They  turned  into  no  house  at  Shepperton,  as  the 
weary  boy  had  expected ;  but  still  kept  walking  on,  in 
mud  and  darkness,  through  gloomy  lanes  and  over  cold 
open  wastes,  until  they  came  within  sight  of  the  lights  of 
a  town  at  no  great  distance.  On  looking  intently  for- 
ward, Oliver  saw  that  the  water  was  just  below  them  : 
and  that  they  were  coming  to  the  foot  of  a  bridge. 

Sikes  kept  straight  on,  until  they  were  close  upon  the 
bridge;  and  then  turned  suddenly  down  a  bank  upon 
the  left. 

"  The  water  !  "  thought  Oliver,  turning  sick  with  fear. 
^*He  has  brought  me  to  this  lonely  place  to  murder 
me!" 

He  was  about  to  throw  himself  on  the  ground,  and 
make  one  struggle  for  his  young  life,  when  he  saw  that 
they  stood  before  a  solitary  house  :  all  ruinous  and  de- 
cayed. There  was  a  window  on  each  side  of  the  dilapi- 
dated entrance ;  and  one  story  above  ;  but  no  light  was 
visible.  It  was  dark,  dismantled :  and,  to  all  appearance, 
uninhabited. 

Sikes,  with  Oliver's  hand  still  in  his,  softly  approached 
the  low  porch,  and  raised  the  latch.  The  door  yielded 
to  the  pressure ;  and  they  passed  in  together. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  243 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


THE     BURGLARY. 


"Hallo!"  cried  aloud,  hoarse  voice,  directly  they 
had  set  foot  in  the  passage. 

"  Don't  make  such  a  row,"  said  Sikes,  bolting  the 
door.     "  Show  a  glim,  Toby.'* 

"  Aha  !  my  pal,"  cried  the  same  voice  ;  "  a  glim,  Bar- 
ney, a  glim !  Show  the  gentleman  in,  Barney ;  and 
wake  up  first,  if  convenient." 

The  speaker  appeared  to  throw  a  boot-jack,  or  some 
such  article,  at  the  person  he  addressed,  to  rouse  him 
from  his  slumbers ;  for  the  noise  of  a  wooden  body,  fall- 
ing violently,  was  heard ;  and  then  an  indistinct  mutter- 
ing, as  of  a  man  between  asleep  and  awake. 

"  Do  you  hear  ?  "  cried  the  same  voice.  "  There's 
Bill  Sikes  in  the  passage  with  nobody  to  do  the  civil  to 
him  ;  and  you  sleeping  there,  as  if  you  took  laudanum 
with  your  meals,  and  nothing  stronger.  Are  you  any 
fresher  now,  or  do  you  want  the  iron  candlestick  to  wake 
you  thoroughly  ?  " 

A  pair  of  slipshod  feet  shuffled  hastily  across  the  bare 
floor  of  the  room,  as  this  interrogatory  was  put ;  and 
there  issued,  from  a  door  on  the  right  hand  :  first,  a  fee- 
ble candle :  and  next,  the  form  of  the  same  individual 
who  has  been  heretofore  described  as  laboring  under  the 


244  OLIVER  TWIST. 

infirmity  of  speaking  through  his  nose,  and  officiating  as 
waiter  at  the  pubHc-house  on  Saffron  Hill. 

"  Bister  Sikes !  "  exclaimed  Barney,  with  real  or  coun- 
terfeit joy  ;  "  cub  id,  sir  ;  cub  id." 

"  Here !  you  get  on  first,"  said  Sikes,  putting  Oliver 
in  front  of  him.  "  Quicker  !  or  I  shall  tread  upon  your 
heels." 

Muttering  a  curse  upon  his  tardiness,  Sikes  pushed 
Oliver  before  him ;  and  they  entered  a  low  dark  room 
with  a  smoky  fire :  two  or  three  broken  chairs,  a  table, 
and  a  very  old  couch :  on  which,  with  his  legs  much 
higher  than  his  head,  a  man  was  reposing  at  full  length, 
smoking  a  long  clay  pipe.  He  was  dressed  in  a  smartly- 
cut  snuff-colored  coat,  with  large  brass  buttons ;  an  or- 
ange neckerchief;  a  coarse,  staring,  shawl-pattern  waist- 
coat ;  and  drab  breeches.  Mr.  Crackit  (for  he  it  was) 
had  no  very  great  quantity  of  hair,  either  upon  his  head 
or  face  ;  but  what  he  had,  was  of  a  reddish  dye,  and  tor- 
tured into  long  corkscrew  curls,  through  which  he  occa- 
sionally thrust  some  very  dirty  fingers,  ornamented  with 
large  common  rings.  He  was  a  trifle  above  the  middle 
size,  and  apparently  rather  weak  in  the  legs ;  but  this 
circumstance  by  no  means  detracted  from  his  own  admi- 
ration of  his  top-boots,  which  he  contemplated,  in  their 
elevated  situation,  with  lively  satisfaction. 

"  Bill,  my  boy ! "  said  this  figure,  turning  his  head 
towards  the  door,  "  I'm  glad  to  see  you.  I  was  almost 
afraid  you'd  given  it  up  :  in  which  case  I  should  have 
made  a  personal  wentur.     Hallo  ! " 

Uttering  this  exclamation  in  a  tone  of  great  surprise, 
as  his  eye  rested  on  Oliver,  Mr.  Toby  Crackit  brought 
himself  into  a  sitting  posture,  and  demanded  who  that 
was. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  245 

"  The  boy.  Only  tlie  boy  ! "  replied  Sikes,  drawing  a 
chair  towards  the  fire. 

"  "Wud  of  Bister  Fagid's  lads,"  exclaimed  Barney,  with 
a  grin. 

'•  Fagin's,  eh  ! "  exclaimed  Toby,  looking  at  Oliver. 
"  Wot  an  inwalable  boy  that'll  make,  for  the  old  ladies' 
pockets  in  chapels.     His  mug  is  a  fortun'  to  him." 

"  There  —  there's  enough  of  that,"  interposed  Sikes, 
impatiently  ;  and  stooping  over  his  recumbent  friend,  he 
whispered  a  few  words  in  his  ear :  at  which  Mr.  Crackit 
laughed  immensely,  and  honored  Oliver  with  a  long  stare 
of  astonishment. 

"  Now,"  said  Sikes,  as  he  resumed  his  seat,  "  if  you'll 
give  us  something  to  eat  and  drink  while  we're  waiting, 
you'll  put  some  heart  in  us ;  or  in  me,  at  all  events.  Sit 
down  by  the  fire,  younker,  and  rest  yourself;  for  you'll 
have  to  go  out  with  us  again  to-night,  though  not  very 
far  off." 

Oliver  looked  at  Sikes,  in  mute  and  timid  wonder ; 
and  drawing  a  stool  to  the  fire,  sat  with  his  aching  head 
upon  his  hands:  scarcely  knowing  where  he  w^as,  or 
what  was  passing  around  him. 

"  Here,"  said  Toby,  as  the  young  Jew  placed  some 
fragments  of  food,  and  a  bottle,  upon  the  table,  "  Success 
to  the  crack  ! "  He  rose  to  honor  the  toast  ;  and,  care- 
fully depositing  his  empty  pipe  in  a  corner,  advanced  to 
the  table  :  filled  a  glass  with  spirits  ;  and  drank  off  its 
contents.     Mr.  Sikes  did  the  same. 

"  A  drain  for  the  boy,"  said  Toby,  half-filling  a  wine- 
glass.    "  Down  with  it,  innocence." 

'•  Indeed,"  said  Oliver,  looking  piteously  up  into  the 
man's  face  ;  "  indeed  I  " 

"  Down  with  it !  "  echoed  Toby.     '•  Do  you  think  I 


246  OLIVER  TWIST. 

don't  know  what's  good  for  you  ?  Tell  him  to  drink  it, 
Bill." 

"  He  had  better  !  "  said  Sikes,  clapping  his  hand  upon 
his  pocket.  "  Burn  my  body,  if  he  isn't  more  trouble 
than  a  whole  family  of  Dodgers.  Drink  it,  you  perwerse 
imp  ;  drink  it !  " 

Frightened  by  the  menacing  gestures  of  the  two  men, 
Oliver  hastily  swallowed  the  contents  of  the  glass,  and 
immediately  fell  into  a  violent  fit  of  coughing :  which  de- 
lighted Toby  Crackit  and  Barney,  and  even  drew  a  smile 
from  the  surly  Mr.  Sikes. 

This  done,  and  Sikes  having  satisfied  his  appetite 
(Oliver  could  eat  nothing  but  a  small  crust  of  bread 
which  they  made  him  swallow),  the  two  men  laid  them- 
selves down  on  chairs  for  a  short  nap.  Oliver  retained 
his  stool  by  the  fire  ;  and  Barney,  wrapped  in  a 
blanket,  stretched  himself  on  the  floor:  close  outside 
the  fender. 

They  slept,  or  appeared  to  sleep,  for  some  time; 
nobody  stirring  but  Barney,  who  rose  once  or  twice  to 
throw  coals  upon  the  fire.  Oliver  fell  into  a  heavy  doze  : 
imagining  himself  straying  along  through  the  gloomy 
lanes,  or  wandering  about  the  dark  church-yard,  or  re- 
tracing some  one  or  other  of  the  scenes  of  the  past  day : 
when  he  was  roused  by  Toby  Crackit  jumping  up  and 
declaring  it  was  half-past  one. 

In  an  instant,  the  other  two  were  on  their  legs  ;  and  all 
were  actively  engaged  in  busy  preparation.  Sikes  and 
his  companion  enveloped  their  necks  and  chins  in  large 
dark  shawls,  and  drew  on  their  great-coats  ;  while  Bar- 
ney, opening  a  cupboard,  brought  forth  several  articles, 
which  he  hastily  crammed  into  the  pockets. 

"  Barkers  for  me,  Barney,"  said  Toby  Crackit. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  247 

"  Here  they  are,"  replied  Barney,  producing  a  pair  of 
pistols.     "  You  loaded  them  yourself." 

"  All  right ! "  replied  Toby,  stowing  them  away.  "  The 
persuaders  ?  " 

"  I've  got  'em,"  replied  Sikes. 

"  Crape,  keys,  centre-bits,  darkies  —  nothing  forgot- 
ten ?  "  inquired  Toby :  fastening  a  small  crowbar  to  a 
loop  inside  the  skirt  of  his  coat. 

"  All  right,"  rejoined  his  companion.  "  Bring  them 
bits  of  timber,  Barney.     That's  the  time  of  day." 

With  these  words,  he  took  a  thick  stick  from  Barney's 
hands,  who,  having  delivered  another  to  Toby,  busied 
himself  in  fastening  on  Oliver's  cape. 

"  Now  then  ! "  said  Sikes,  holding  out  his  hand. 

Oliver  :  who  was  completely  stupefied  by  the  unwonted 
exercise,  and  the  air,  and  the  drink  which  had  been 
forced  upon  him :  put  his  hand  mechanically  into  that 
which  Sikes  extended  for  the  purpose. 

"Take  his  other  hand,  Toby,"  said  Sikes.  "Look 
out,  Barney." 

The  man  went  to  the  door,  and  returned  to  announce 
that  all  was  quiet.  The  two  robbers  issued  forth  with 
Oliver  between  them.  Barney,  having  made  all  fast, 
rolled  himself  up  as  before,  and  was  soon  asleep 
again. 

It  was  now  intensely  dark.  The  fog  was  much  heav- 
ier than  it  had  been  in  the  early  part  of  the  night ; 
and  the  atmosphere  was  so  damp,  that,  although  no  rain 
fell,  OHver's  hair  and  eyebrows,  within  a  few  minutes 
after  leaving  the  house,  had  become  stiiF  with  the  half- 
frozen  moisture  that  was  floating  about.  They  crossed 
the  bridge  ;  and  kept  on  towards  the  lights  which  he  had 
seen  before.     They  were  at  no  great  distance  off;  and. 


248  OLIVER  TWIST. 

as  they  walked  pretty  briskly,  they  soon  arrived  at 
Chertsey. 

"  Slap  through  the  town,"  whispered  Sikes  ;  "  there'll 
be  nobody  in  the  way,  to-night,  to  see  us." 

Toby  acquiesced ;  and  they  hurried  through  the  main 
street  of  the  little  town,  which  at  that  late  hour  was 
wholly  deserted.  A  dim  light  shone  at  intervals  from 
some  bed-room  window ;  and  the  hoarse  barking  of 
dogs  occasionally  broke  the  silence  of  the  night.  But 
there  was  nobody  abroad ;  and  they  had  cleared  the 
town,  as  the  church-bell  struck  two. 

Quickening  their  pace,  they  turned  up  a  road  upon  the 
left  hand.  After  walking  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 
they  stopped  before  a  detached  house  surrounded  by  a 
wall :  to  the  top  of  which  Toby  Crackit,  scarcely  paus- 
ing to  take  breath,  climbed  in  a  twinkling. 

"  The  boy  next,"  said  Toby.  "  Hoist  him  up ;  I'll 
catch  hold  of  him." 

Before  Ohver  had  time  to  look  round,  Sikes  had 
caught  him  under  the  arms ;  and  in  three  or  four  seconds 
he  and  Toby  were  lying  on  the  grass  on  the  other  side. 
Sikes  followed  directly.  And  they  stole  cautiously  to- 
wards the  house. 

And  now,  for  the  first  time,  Oliver,  well-nigh  mad  with 
grief  and  terror,  saw  that  house-breaking  and  robbery,  if 
not  murder,  were  the  objects  of  the  expedition.  He 
clasped  his  hands  together,  and  involuntarily  uttered  a 
subdued  exclamation  of  horror.  A  mist  came  before  his 
eyes  ;  the  cold  sweat  stood  upon  his  ashy  face ;  his  limbs 
failed  him  ;  and  he  sunk  upon  his  knees. 

"  Get  up  ! "  murmured  Sikes,  trembling  with  rage,  and 
drawing  the  pistol  from  his  pocket.  "  Get  up,  or  I'll 
strew  your  brains  upon  the  grass." 


OLH^ER  TWIST.  249 

"  Oh  !  for  God's  sake  let  me  go  ! "  cried  Oliver  ;  "  let 
me  run  away  and  die  in  the  fields.  I  will  never  come 
near  London  ;  never,  never  !  Oh  !  pray  have  mercy  on 
me,  and  do  not  make  me  steal.  For  the  love  of  all  the 
bright  Angels  that  rest  in  Heaven,  have  mercy  upon 
me  ! " 

The  man  to  whom  this  appeal  was  made,  swore  a 
dreadful  oath,  and  had  cocked  the  pistol,  when  Toby, 
striking  it  from  his  gra?p,  placed  his  hand  upon  the  boy's 
mouth,  and  dragged  him  to  the  house. 

"  Hush  !  "  cried  the  man  ;  "it  won't  answer  here.  Say 
another  word,  and  I'll  do  your  business  myself  with  a 
crack  on  the  head.  That  makes  no  noise  ;  and  is  quite 
as  certain,  and  more  genteel.  Here  Bill,  wrench  the 
shutter  open.  He's  game  enough  now,  I'll  engage.  I've 
seen  older  hands  of  his  age  took  the  same  way,  for  a 
minute  or  two,  on  a  cold  night." 

Sikes,  invoking  terrific  imprecations  upon  Fagin's 
head  for  sending  Oliver  on  such  an  errand,  plied  the 
crowbar  vigorously,  but  with  little  noise.  After  some 
delay,  and  some  assistance  from  Toby,  the  shutter  to 
which  he  had  referred,  swung  open  on  its  hinges. 

It  was  a  little  lattice  window,  about  five  feet  and  a 
half  above  the  ground  :  at  the  back  of  the  house  :  which 
belonged  to  a  scullery,  or  small  brewing-place,  at  the 
end  of  the  passage.  The  aperture  was  so  small,  that  the 
inmates  had  probably  not  thought  it  worth  while  to  de- 
fend it  more  securely  ;  but  it  was  large  enough  to  admit 
a  boy  of  Oliver's  size,  nevertheless.  A  very  brief  ex- 
ercise of  Mr.  Sikes's  art,  sufiiced  to  overcome  the  fasten- 
ing of  the  lattice  ;  and  it  soon  stood  wide  open  also. 

"  Now  listen,  you  young  limb,"  whispered  Sikes,  draw- 
ing a  dark  lantern  from  his  pocket,  and   throwing  the 


250  OLIVER  TWIST. 

glare  full  on  Oliver's  face ;  "  I'm  a-going  to  put  you  through 
there.  Take  this  light ;  go  softly  up  the  steps  straight 
afore  you  ;  and  along  the  little  hall  to  the  street-door ; 
unfasten  it,  and  let  us  in." 

"  There's  a  bolt  at  the  top,  you  won't  be  able  to  reach," 
interposed  Toby.  "  Stand  upon  one  of  the  hall-chairs. 
Tliere  are  three  there,  Bill,  with  a  jolly  large  blue  uni- 
corn and  a  gold  pitchfork  on  'em :  which  is  the  old  lady's 
arms." 

"  Keep  quiet,  can't  you  ?"  replied  Sikes,  with  a  threat- 
ening look.     "  The  room-door  is  open,  is  it  ?  " 

"  Wide,"  replied  Toby,  after  peeping  in  to  satisfy  him- 
self. "  The  game  of  that,  is,  that  they  always  leave  it 
open  with  a  catch,  so  that  the  dog,  who's  got  a  bed  in 
here,  may  walk  up  and  down  the  passage  when  he  feels 
wakeful.  Ha  !  ha !  Barney  'ticed  him  away  to-night. 
So  neat  ! " 

Although  Mr.  Crackit  spoke  in  a  scarcely  audible 
whisper,  and  laughed  without  noise,  Sikes  imperiously 
commanded  him  to  be  silent,  and  to  get  to  work.  Toby 
complied,  by  first  producing  his  lantern,  and  placing  it 
on  the  ground  ;  and  then  by  planting  himself  firmly  with 
his  head  against  the  wall  beneath  the  window,  and  his 
hands  upon  his  knees,  so  as  to  make  a  step  of  his  back. 
This  was  no  sooner  done,  than  Sikes,  mounting  upon  him, 
put  Oliver  gently  through  the  window  with  his  feet  first; 
and,  without  leaving  hold  of  his  collar,  planted  him  safely 
on  the  floor  inside. 

"  Take  this  lantern,"  said  Sikes,  looking  into  the  room. 
"  You  see  the  stairs  afore  you  ?  " 

Oliver,  more  dead  than  alive,  gasped  out  "  Yes."  Sikes 
pointing  to  the  street-door  with  the  pistol-barrel,  briefly 
advised  him  to  take  notice  that  he  was  within  shot  all 


OLIYER  TWIST.  251 

the  way  ;  and  that  if  he  faltered,  he  would  fall  dead  that 
instant. 

"  It's  done  in  a  minute,"  said  Sikes,  in  the  same  low 
whisper.  "  Directly  I  leave  go  of  you,  do  your  work. 
Hark  ! " 

"  What's  that  ?  "  whispered  the  other  man. 

They  listened  intently. 

"  Nothing,"  said  Sikes,  releasing  his  hold  of  Oliver. 
"Now!" 

In  the  short  time  he  had  had  to  collect  his  senses,  the 
boy  had  firmly  resolved  that,  whether  he  died  in  the 
attempt  or  not,  he  would  make  one  effort  to  dart  up- 
stairs from  the  hall,  and  alarm  the  family.  Filled  with 
this  idea,  he  advanced  at  once,  but  stealthily. 

"  Come  back  ! "  suddenly  cried  Sikes  aloud.  "  Back ! 
back  ! " 

Scared  by  the  sudden  breaking  of  the  dead  stillness 
of  the  place,  and  by  a  loud  cry  which  followed  it,  Oliver 
let  his  lantern  fall  and  knew  not  whether  to  advance  or 

The  cry  was  repeated  —  a  light  appeared  —  a  vision 
of  two  terrified  half-dressed  men  at  the  top  of  the  stairs 
swam  before  his  eyes  —  a  flash  —  a  loud  noise  —  a  smoke 
—  a  crash  somewhere,  but  where  he  knew  not,  —  and  he 
staororered  back. 

Sikes  had  disappeared  for  an  instant ;  but  he  was  up 
again,  and  had  him  by  the  collar  before  the  smoke  had 
cleared  away. 

He  fired  his  own  pistol  after  the  men,  who  were 
already  retreating  ;  and  dragged  the  boy  up. 

"  Clasp  your  arm  tighter,"  said  Sikes,  as  he  drew  him 
through  the  window.  "  Give  me  a  shawl  here.  They've 
hit  him.     Quick  !     Damnation,  how  the  boy  bleeds  ! " 


252  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Then  came  the  loud  ringing  of  a  bell :  mingled  with 
the  noise  of  fire-arms,  and  the  shouts  of  men,  and  the 
sensation  of  being  carried  over  uneven  ground  at  a  rapid 
pace.  And  then,  the  noises  grew  confused  in  the  dis- 
tance ;  and  a  cold  deadly  feeling  crept  over  the  boy's 
heart:  and  he  saw  or  heard  no  more. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  253 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

WHICH  CONTAINS  THE  SUBSTANCE  OF  A  PLEAS- 
ANT CONVERSATION  BETWEEN  MR.  BUMBLE  AND 
A  LADY  ;  AND  SHOWS  THAT  EVEN  A  BEADLE  MAY 
BE     SUSCEPTIBLE     ON     SOME     POINTS. 

The  night  was  bitter  cold.  The  snow  lay  on  the 
ground,  frozen  into  a  hard  thick  crust ;  so  that  only  the 
heaps  that  had  drifted  into  by-ways  and  corners  were 
affected  by  the  sharp  wind  that  howled  abroad  :  which, 
as  if  expending  increased  fury  on  such  prey  as  it  found, 
caught  it  savagely  up  in  clouds,  and,  whirling  it  into  a 
thousand  misty  eddies,  scattered  it  in  air.  Bleak,  dark, 
and  piercing  cold,  it  was  a  night  for  the  well-housed  and 
fed  to  draw  round  the  bright  fire  and  thank  God  they 
were  at  home  ;  and  for  the  homeless  starving  wretch  to 
lay  him  down  and  die.  Many  hunger-worn  outcasts  close 
their  eyes  in  our  bare  streets,  at  such  times,  who,  let 
their  crimes  have  been  what  they  may,  can  hardly  open 
them  in  a  more  bitter  world. 

Such  was  the  aspect  of  out-of-doors  affairs,  when  Mrs. 
Corney,  the  matron  of  the  workhouse  to  which  our  read- 
ers have  been  already  introduced  as  the  birthplace  of 
Ohver  Twist,  sat  herself  down  before  a  cheerful  fire  in 
her  own  little  room  ;  and  glanced,  with  no  small  degree 
of  complacency,  at  a  small  round  table  :  on  which  stood 
a  tray  of  corresponding  size,  furnished  with  all  necessary 


254  OLIVER  TWIST. 

materials  for  the  most  grateful  meal  that  matrons  enjoy. 
In  foct,  Mrs.  Corney  was  about  to  solace  herself  with  a 
cup  of  tea.  As  she  glanced  from  the  table  to  the  fire- 
place, where  the  smallest  of  all  possible  kettles  was  sing- 
ing a  small  song  in  a  small  voice,  her  inward  satisfaction 
evidently  increased,  —  so  much  so,  indeed,  that  Mrs.  Cor- 
ney smiled. 

"  Well ! "  said  the  matron,  leaning  her  elbow  on  the 
table,  and  looking  reflectively  at  the  fire  ;  "  I'm  sure  we 
have  all  on  us  a  great  deal  to  be  grateful  for  !  A  great 
deal,  if  we  did  but  know  it.     Ah  !  " 

Mrs.  Corney  shook  her  head  mournfully,  as  if  deplor- 
ing the  mental  blindness  of  those  paupers  who  did  not 
know  it ;  and  thrusting  a  silver  spoon  (private  property) 
into  the  inmost  recesses  of  a  two-ounce  tin  tea-caddy, 
proceeded  to  make  the  tea. 

How  slight  a  thing  will  disturb  the  equanimity  of  our 
frail  minds  !  The  black  teapot,  being  very  small  and 
easily  filled,  ran  over  while  Mrs.  Corney  w^as  moralizing; 
and  the  water  slightly  scalded  Mrs.  Corney's  hand. 

"  Drat  the  pot  !  "  said  the  worthy  matron,  setting  it 
down  very  hastily  on  the  hob  ;  "  a  little  stupid  thing, 
that  only  holds  a  couple  of  cups  !  What  use  is  it  of,  to 
anybody  !  Except,"  said  Mrs.  Corney,  pausing,  "  except 
to  a  poor  desolate  creature  like  me.     Oh  dear  !  " 

With  these  words  the  matron  dropped  into  her  chair ; 
and,  once  more  resting  her  elbow  on  the  table,  thought 
of  her  solitary  fate.  The  small  teapot  and  the  single 
cup,  had  awakened  in  her  mind  sad  recollections  of  Mr. 
Corney  (who  had  not  been  dead  more  than  five-and- 
twenty  years)  ;  and  she  was  overpowered. 

"  I  shall  never  get  another  ! "  said  Mrs.  Corney,  pet- 
tishly ;  "  I  shall  never  get  another  —  like  him." 


OLR^ER  TWIST.  255 

"Whether  this  remark  bore  reference  to  the  husband, 
or  the  teapot,  is  uncertain.  It  might  have  been  the  lat- 
ter ;  for  Mrs.  Corney  looked  at  it  as  she  spoke :  and  took 
it  up  afterwards.  She  had  just  tasted  her  first  cup,  when 
she  was  disturbed  by  a  soft  tap  at  the  room-door. 

"  Oh,  come  in  with  you  ! "  said  Mrs.  Corney,  sharply. 
"  Some  of  the  old  women  dying,  I  suppose.  They  always 
die  when  I'm  at  meals.  Don't  stand  there,  letting  the 
cold  air  in,  don't.     What's  amiss  now,  eh  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  ma'am,  nothing,"  replied  a  man's  voice. 

"  Dear  me ! "  exclaimed  the  matron,  in  a  much  sweeter 
tone,  "  is  that  Mr.  Bumble  ?  " 

"  At  your  service,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  who  had 
been  stopping  outside  to  rub  his  shoes  clean,  and  to  shake 
the  snow  off  his  coat ;  and  who  now  made  his  appear- 
ance, bearing  the  cocked-hat  in  one  hand  and  a  bundle 
in  the  other.     "  Shall  I  shut  the  door,  ma'am  ?  " 

The  lady  modestly  hesitated  to  reply,  lest  there  should 
be  any  impropriety  in  holding  an  interview  with  Mr. 
Bumble,  with  closed  doors.  Mr.  Bumble  taking  advan- 
tage of  the  hesitation,  and  being  very  cold  himself,  shut 
it  without  further  permission. 

"  Hard  weather,  Mr.  Bumble,"  said  the  matron. 

"  Hard,  indeed,  ma'am,"  replied  the  beadle.  "  Anti- 
porochial  weather  this,  ma'am.  We  have  given  away, 
Mrs.  Corney,  we  have  given  away  a  matter  of  twenty 
quartern  loaves  and  a  cheese  and  a  half,  this  very 
blessed  afternoon  ;  and  yet  them  paupers  are  not  con- 
tented." 

"  Of  course  not.  When  would  they  be,  Mr.  Bumble  ?" 
said  the  matron,  sipping  her  tea. 

"  When,  indeed,  ma'am  ! "  rejoined  Mr.  Bumble. 
"  Why,  here's    one    man   that,  in   consideration   of  his 


256  OLIVER  TWIST. 

wife  and  large  family,  has  a  quartern  loaf  and  a  good 
pound  of  cheese,  full  weight.  Is  he  grateful,  ma'am,  is 
he  grateful  ?  Not  a  copper  farthing's  worth  of  it !  What 
does  he  do,  ma'am,  but  ask  for  a  few  coals ;  if  it's  only 
a  pocket  handkerchief  full,  he  says  !  Coals  !  "What 
would  he  do  with  coals  ?  Toast  his  cheese  with  'em, 
and  then  come  back  for  more.  That's  the  way  with 
these  people,  ma'am  ;  give  'em  a  apron  full  of  coals 
to-day,  and  they'll  come  back  for  another,  the  day  after 
to-morrow,  as  brazen  as  alabaster." 

The  matron  expressed  her  entire  concurrence  in  this 
intelligible  simile ;  and  the  beadle  went  on. 

"  I  never,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  "  see  anything  like  the 
pitch  it's  got  to.  The  day  afore  yesterday,  a  man — you 
have  been  a  married  woman,  ma'am,  and  I  may  mention 
it  to  you  —  a  man,  with  hardly  a  rag  upon  his  back 
(here  Mrs.  Corney  looked  at  the  floor),  goes  to  our  over- 
seer's door  when  he  has  got  company  coming  to  dinner ; 
and  says,  he  must  be  relieved,  Mrs.  Corney.  As  he 
wouldn't  go  away,  and  shocked  the  company  very  much, 
our  overseer  sent  him  out  a  pound  of  potatoes  and  half 
a  pint  of  oatmeal.  *  My  heart ! '  says  the  ungrateful  vil- 
lain, '  what's  the  use  of  this  to  me  ?  You  might  as  well 
give  me  a  pair  of  iron  spectacles  ! '  '  Very  good,'  says 
our  overseer,  taking  'em  away  again,  '  you  won't  get 
anything  else  here.'  '  Then  I'll  die  in  the  streets  ! '  says 
the  vagrant.     '  Oh  no,  you  won't,'  says  our  overseer." 

"  Ha !  ha  !  That  was  very  good  !  So  Hke  Mr.  Gran- 
nett,  wasn't  it  ? "  interposed  the  matron.  "  Well,  Mr. 
Bumble?" 

"  Well,  ma'am,"  rejoined  the  beadle,  ''  he  went  away  ; 
and  he  did  die  in  the  streets.  There's  a  obstinate  pau- 
per for  you  ! " 


OLIVER  TWIST.  257 

"  It  beats  anything  I  could  have  believed,"  observed 
the  matron  emphatically.  "  But  don't  you  think  out-of- 
door  relief  a  very  bad  thing,  any  way,  Mr.  Bumble  ? 
You're  a  gentleman  of  experience,  and  ought  to  know. 
Come." 

"  Mrs.  Comey,"  said  the  beadle,  smiling  as  men  smile 
who  are  conscious  of  superior  information,  "  out-of-door 
relief,  properly  managed :  properly  managed,  ma'am :  is 
the  porochial  safeguard.  The  great  principle  of  out-of- 
door  relief,  is,  to  give  the  paupers  exactly  what  they 
don't  want ;  and  then  they  get  tired  of  coming." 

"  Dear  me  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Corney.  "  Well,  that  is 
a  good  one,  too." 

"  Yes.  Betwixt  you  and  me,  ma'am,"  returned  Mr. 
Bumble,  "  that's  the  great  principle ;  and  that's  the 
reason  why,  if  you  look  at  any  cases  that  get  into  them 
owdacious  newspapers,  you'll  always  observe  that  sick 
families  have  been  relieved  with  slices  of  cheese.  That's 
the  rule  now,  Mrs.  Corney,  all  over  the  country.  But, 
however,"  said  the  beadle,  stooping  to  unpack  his  bundle, 
"  these  are  official  secrets,  ma'am  ;  not  to  be  spoken  of : 
except,  as  I  may  say,  among  the  porochial  officers,  such 
as  ourselves.  This  is  the  port-wine,  ma'am,  that  the 
board  ordered  for  the  infirmary  ;  real,  fresh,  genuine 
port-wine ;  only  out  of  the  cask  this  forenoon ;  clear  as 
a  bell ;  and  no  sediment !  " 

Having  held  the  first  bottle  up  to  the  light,  and  shaken 
it  well  to  test  its  excellence,  Mr.  Bumble  placed  them 
both  on  the  top  of  a  chest  of  drawers  ;  folded  the  hand- 
kerchief in  which  they  had  been  wrapped ;  put  it  care- 
fully in  his  pocket ;  and  took  up  his  hat,  as  if  to  go. 

''  You'll  have  a  very  cold  walk,  Mr.  Bumble,"  said  the 
matron. 

VOL.  I.  17 


258  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  It  blows,  ma'am,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble,  turning  up 
his  coat-collar,  "  enough  to  cut  one's  ears  off." 

The  matron  looked,  from  the  little  kettle,  to  the  bea- 
dle, who  was  moving  towards  the  door;  and  as  the  beadle 
coughed,  preparatory  to  bidding  her  good-night,  bashfully 
inquired  whether  —  whether  he  wouldn't  take  a  cup  of 
tea? 

Mr.  Bumble  instantaneously  turned  back  his  collar 
again ;  laid  his  hat  and  stick  upon  a  chair :  and  drew 
another  chair  up  to  the  table.  As  he  slowly  seated 
himself,  he  looked  at  the  lady.  She  fixed  her  eyes 
upon  the  little  teapot.  Mr.  Bumble  coughed  again, 
and  slightly  smiled. 

Mrs.  Corney  rose  to  get  another  cup  and  saucer  from 
the  closet.  As  she  sat  down,  her  eyes  once  again  en- 
countered those  of  the  gallant  beadle;  she  colored,  and 
applied  herself  to  the  task  of  making  his  tea.  Again 
Mr.  Bumble  coughed,  —  louder  this  time  than  he  had 
coughed  yet. 

"  Sweet  ?  Mr.  Bumble,"  inquired  the  matron,  taking 
up  the  sugar-basin. 

"  Very  sweet,  indeed,  ma'am,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble. 
He  fixed  his  eyes  on  Mrs.  Corney  as  he  said  this ;  and 
if  ever  a  beadle  looked  tender,  Mr.  Bumble  was  that 
beadle  at  that  moment. 

The  tea  was  made,  and  handed  in  silence.  Mr.  Bum- 
ble, having  spread  a  handkerchief  over  his  knees  to 
prevent  the  crumbs  from  sullying  the  splendor  of  his 
shorts,  began  to  eat  and  drink  ;  varying  these  amuse- 
ments, occasionally,  by  fetching  a  deep  sigh;  which, 
however,  had  no  injurious  effect  upon  his  appetite,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  rather  seemed  to  facilitate  his  operations 
in  the  tea  and  toast  department. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  259 

"  You  have  a  cat,  ma'am,  I  see,"  said  Mr.  Bumble, 
glancing  at  one,  who,  in  the  centre  of  her  family,  was 
basking  before  the  fire ;  "  and  kittens  too,  I  declare  ! " 

"  I  am  so  fond  of  them,  Mr.  Bumble,  you  can't  think," 
replied  the  matron.  "  They  are  so  happy,  so  frohcsome, 
and  so  cheerful,  that  they  are  quite  companions  for  me." 

"  Very  nice  animals,  ma'am,"  replied  Mr.  Bumble, 
approvingly  ;  "  so  very  domestic." 

"  Oh,  yes  !  "  rejoined  the  matron  with  enthusiasm  ; 
"  so  fond  of  their  home,  too,  that  it's  quite  a  pleasure, 
I'm  sure." 

"  Mrs.  Corney,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  slowly,  and 
marking  the  time  with  his  teaspoon,  "  I  mean  to  say 
this,  ma'am  ;  that  any  cat,  or  kitten,  that  could  live 
with  you,  ma'am,  and  not  be  fond  of  its  home,  must 
be  a  ass,  ma'am." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Bumble ! "  remonstrated  Mrs.  Corney. 

"  It's  of  no  use  disguising  facts,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Bum- 
ble, slowly  flourishing  the  teaspoon  with  a  kind  of  amo- 
rous dignity  which  made  him  doubly  impressive ;  "  I 
would  drown  it  myself,  with  pleasure." 

"  Then  you're  a  cruel  man,"  said  the  matron  viva- 
ciously, as  she  held  out  her  hand  for  the  beadle's  cup ; 
*'  and  a  very  hard-hearted  man  besides." 

"  Hard-hearted,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  "  hard  !  " 
Mr.  Bumble  resigned  his  cup  without  another  word; 
squeezed  Mrs.  Corney's  little  finger  as  she  took  it ;  and 
inflicting  two  open-handed  slaps  upon  his  laced  waistcoat, 
gave  a  mighty  sigh,  and  hitched  his  chair  a  very  little 
morsel  farther  from  the  fire. 

It  was  a  round  table ;  and  as  Mrs.  Corney  and  Mr. 
Bumble  had  been  sitting  opposite  each  other :  with  no 
great  space  between  them,  and  fronting  the  fire :  it  will 


260  OLIVER  TWIST. 

be  seen  that  Mr.  Bumble,  in  receding  from  the  fire, 
and  still  keeping  at  the  table,  increased  the  distance 
between  himself  and  Mrs.  Corney ;  which  proceeding, 
some  prudent  readers  will  doubtless  be  disposed  to  ad- 
mire, and  to  consider  an  act  of  great  heroism  on  Mr. 
Bumble's  part :  he  being  in  some  sort  tempted  by  time, 
place,  and  opportunity,  to  give  utterance  to  certain  soft 
nothmgs,  which  however  well  they  may  become  the  lips 
of  the  light  and  thoughtless,  do  seem  immeasurably  be- 
neath the  dignity  of  judges  of  the  land,  members  of 
parliament,  ministers  of  state,  lord  mayors,  and  other 
great  public  functionaries,  but  more  particularly  beneath 
the  stateliness  and  gravity  of  a  beadle  :  who  (as  is  well 
known)  should  be  the  sternest  and  most  inflexible  among 
them  all. 

Whatever  were  Mr.  Bumble's  intentions,  however  : 
and  no  doubt  they  were  of  the  best :  it  unfortunately 
happened  as  has  been  twice  before  remarked,  that  the 
table  was  a  round  one ;  consequently  Mr.  Bumble,  mov- 
ing his  chair  by  little  and  little,  soon  began  to  diminish 
the  distance  between  himself  and  the  matron ;  and,  con- 
tinuing to  travel  round  the  outer  edge  of  the  circle, 
brought  his  chair,  in  time,  close  to  that  in  which  the 
matron  was  seated.  Indeed,  the  two  chairs  touched ; 
and  when  they  did  so,  Mr.  Bumble  stopped. 

Now,  if  the  matron  had  moved  her  chair  to  the  right, 
she  would  have  been  scorched  by  the  fire ;  and  if  to  the 
left,  she  must  have  fallen  into  Mr.  Bumble's  arms  ;  so 
(being  a  discreet  matron,  and  no  doubt  foreseeing  these 
consequences  at  a  glance)  she  remained  where  she  was, 
and  handed  Mr.  Bumble  another  cup  of  tea. 

"  Hard-hearted,  Mrs.  Corney  ? "  said  Mr.  Bumble, 
stirring  his  tea,  and  looking  up  into  the  matron's  face ; 
"  are  you  hard-hearted,  Mrs.  Corney  ?  " 


OLRTER  TWIST.  261 

"  Dear  me  ! "  exclaimed  tlie  matron,  "  what  a  very 
curious  question  from  a  single  man.  What  can  you 
want  to  know  for,  Mr.  Bumble  ? " 

The  beadle  drank  his  tea  to  the  last  drop  ;  finished 
a  piece  of  toast ;  whisked  the  crumbs  off  his  knees  ; 
wiped  his  lips  ;  and  deliberately  kissed  the  matron. 

"  Mr.  Bumble,"  cried  that  discreet  lady  in  a  whisper  ; 
for  the  fright  was  so  great,  that  she  had  quite  lost  her 
voice,  "  Mr.  Bumble,  I  shall  scream  ! "  Mr.  Bumble 
made  no  reply  ;  but  in  a  slow  and  dignified  manner,  put 
his  arm  round  the  matron's  waist. 

As  the  lady  had  stated  her  intention  of  screaming, 
of  course  she  would  have  screamed  at  this  additional 
boldness,  but  that  the  exertion  was  rendered  unneces- 
sary by  a  hasty  knocking  at  the  door  :  which  was  no 
sooner  heard,  than  Mr.  Bumble  darted,  with  much  agil- 
ity, to  the  wine-bottles,  and  began  dusting  them  with 
great  violence ;  while  the  matron  sharply  demanded  who 
was  there.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  as  a  curious  phys- 
ical instance  of  the  efficacy  of  a  sudden  surprise  in 
counteracting  the  effects  of  extreme  fear,  that  her  voice 
had  quite  recovered  all  its  official  asperity. 

'•'  If  you  please,  mistress,"  said  a  withered  old  female 
pauper,  hideously  ugly  :  putting  her  head  in  at  the  door, 
"  Old  Sally  is  a-going  fast." 

"  Well,  what's  that  to  me  ? "  angrily  demanded  the 
matron.     "  I  can't  keep  her  alive,  can  I  ? " 

"  No,  no,  mistress,"  replied  the  old  woman,  "  nobody 
can ;  she's  far  beyond  the  reach  of  help.  I've  seen  a 
many  people  die  ;  little  babes  and  great  strong  men ; 
and  I  know  when  death's  a-coming,  well  enough.  But 
she's  troubled  in  her  mind :  and  when  the  fits  are  not 
on  her,  —  and   that's  not  often,  for  she  is  dying  very 


262  OLIVER  TWIST. 

hard,  —  she  says  she  has  got  something  to  tell,  which 
you  must  hear.  She'll  never  die  quiet  till  you  come, 
mistress." 

At  this  intelligence,  the  worthy  Mrs.  Corney  muttered 
a  variety  of  invectives  against  old  women  who  couldn't 
even  die  without  purposely  annoying  their  betters  ;  and, 
muffling  herself  in  a  thick  shawl  which  she  hastily  caught 
up,  briefly  requested  Mr.  Bumble  to  stay  till  she  came 
back,  lest  anything  particular  should  occur ;  and,  bidding 
the  messenger  walk  fast,  and  not  be  all  night  hobbling 
up  the  stairs,  followed  her  from  the  room  with  a  very 
ill  grace  :  scolding  all  the  way. 

Mr.  Bumble's  conduct  on  being  left  to  himself,  was 
rather  inexplicable.  He  opened  the  closet,  counted  the 
teaspoons,  weighed  the  sugar-tongs,  closely  inspected  a 
silver  milk-pot  to  ascertain  that  it  was  of  the  genuine 
metal ;  and,  having  satisfied  his  curiosity  on  these  points, 
put  on  his  cocked-hat  corner-wise,  and  danced  with  much 
gravity  four  distinct  times  round  the  table.  Having  gone 
through  this  very  extraordinary  performance,  he  took  off 
the  cocked-hat  again ;  and,  spreading  himself  before  the 
fire  with  his  back  towards  it,  seemed  to  be  mentally  en- 
gaged in  taking  an  exact  inventory  of  the  furniture. 


OLIYER  TWIST.  263 


CHAPTER  XXiy. 

TEEATS  OF  A  VERY  POOR  SUBJECT.  BUT  IS  A  SHORT 
ONE  ;  AND  MAT  BE  FOUND  OF  lilPORTANCE  IN 
THIS    HISTORY. 

It  was  no  unfit  messenger  of  death,  that  had  dis- 
turbed the  quiet  of  the  matron's  room.  Her  body  was 
bent  by  age  ;  her  limbs  trembled  with  palsy ;  and  her 
face,  distorted  into  a  mumbling  leer,  resembled  more  the 
grotesque  shaping  of  some  wild  pencil,  than  the  work  of 
Nature's  hand. 

Alas  !  how  few  of  Nature's  faces  are  left  to  gladden 
us  with  their  beauty  !  The  cares,  and  sorrows,  and  hun- 
gerings,  of  the  world,  change  them  as  they  change  hearts ; 
and  it  is  only  when  those  passions  sleep,  and  have  lost 
their  hold  forever,  that  the  troubled  clouds  pass  off,  and 
leave  Heaven's  surface  clear.  It  is  a  common  thing  for 
the  countenances  of  the  dead,  even  in  that  fixed  and 
rigid  state,  to  subside  into  the  long-forgotten  expression 
of  sleeping  infancy,  and  settle  into  the  very  look  of  early 
life ;  so  calm,  so  peaceful  do  they  grow  again,  that  those 
who  knew  them  in  their  happy  childhood,  kneel  by  the 
coffin's  side  in  awe,  and  see  the  Angel  even  upon  earth. 

The  old  crone  tottered  along  the  passages,  and  up  the 
stairs,  muttering  some  indistinct  answers  to  the  chidings 
of  her   companion ;   and  being  at  length  compelled  to 


264  OLIVER  TWrST. 

pause  for  breath,  gave  the  light  into  her  hand,  and  re- 
mained behind  to  follow  as  she  might  :  while  the  more 
nimble  superior  made  her  way  to  the  room  where  the 
sick  woman  lay. 

It  was  a  bare  garret-room,  with  a  dim  light  burning  at 
the  farther  end.  There  was  another  old  woman  watch- 
ing by  the  bed ;  and  the  parish  apothecary's  apprentice 
was  standing  by  the  fire,  making  a  toothpick  out  of  a 
quill. 

"  Cold  night,  Mrs.  Corney,"  said  this  young  gentle- 
man, as  the  matron  entered. 

"  Very  cold  indeed,  sir,"  replied  the  mistress  in  her 
most  civil  tones,  and  dropping  a  courtesy  as  she  spoke. 

"  You  should  get  better  coals  out  of  your  contractors," 
said  the  apothecary's  deputy,  breaking  a  lump  on  the  top 
of  the  fire  with  the  rusty  poker ;  "  these  are  not  at  all 
the  sort  of  thinoj  for  a  cold  night." 

"  They're  the  board's  choosing,  sir,"  returned  the  mat- 
ron. "  The  least  they  could  do,  would  be  to  keep  us 
pretty  warm :  for  our  places  are  hard  enough." 

The  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  a  moan  from 
the  sick  woman. 

"  Oh  !  "  said  the  young  man,  turning  his  face  towards 
the  bed,  as  if  he  had  previously  quite  forgotten  the  pa- 
tient, "  it's  all  U.  P.  there,  Mrs.  Corney." 

"  It  is,  is  it,  sir  ?  "  asked  the  matron. 

"  If  she  lasts  a  couple  of  hours,  I  shall  be  surprised," 
said  the  apothecary's  apprentice,  intent  upon  the  tooth- 
pick's point.  "  It's  a  break-up  of  the  system  altogether. 
Is  she  dozing,  old  lady  ?  " 

The  attendant  stooped  over  the  bed,  to  ascertain  ;  and 
nodded  in  the  affirmative. 

'•  Then  perhaps  she'll  go  off  in  that  way,  if  you  don't 


OLIVER  TWIST.  265 

make  a  row,"  said  the  young  man.  "  Put  the  light  on 
the  floor.     She  won't  see  it  there." 

The  attendant  did  as  she  was  told ;  shaking  her  head 
meanwhile,  to  intimate  that  the  woman  would  not  die  so 
easily  ;  having  done  so,  she  resumed  her  seat  by  the  side 
of  the  other  nurse,  who  had  by  this  time  returned.  The 
mistress,  with  an  expression  of  impatience,  wrapped  her- 
self in  her  shawl,  and  sat  at  the  foot  of  the  bed. 

The  apothecary's  apprentice,  having  completed  the 
manufacture  of  the  toothpick,  planted  himself  in  front  of 
the  fire  and  made  good  use  of  it  for  ten  minutes  or  so ; 
when  apparently  growing  rather  dull,  he  wished  Mrs. 
Corney  joy  of  her  job,  and  took  himself  off  on  tiptoe. 

When  they  had  sat  in  silence  for  some  time,  the  two 
old  women  rose  from  the  bed ;  and  crouching  over  the 
fire,  held  out  their  withered  hands  to  catch  the  heat. 
The  flame  threw  a  ghastly  light  on  their  shrivelled  faces; 
and  made  their  ugliness  appear  perfectly  terrible,  as,  in 
this  position,  they  began  to  converse  in  a  low  voice. 

"  Did  she  say  any  more,  Anny  dear,  while  I  was 
gone  ?  "  inquired  the  messenger. 

"  Not  a  word,"  replied  the  other.  "  She  plucked  and 
tore  at  her  arms  for  a  little  time  ;  but  I  held  her  hands, 
and  she  soon  dropped  off.  She  hasn't  much  strength  in 
her,  so  I  easily  kept  her  quiet.  I  a'n't  so  weak  for  an 
old  woman,  although  I  am  on  parish  allowance ;  —  no, 
no!" 

"  Did  she  drink  the  hot  wine  the  doctor  said  she  was 
to  have  ?  "  demanded  the  first. 

"  I  tried  to  get  it  down,"  rejoined  the  other.  "  But 
her  teeth  were  tight  set ;  and  she  clenched  the  mug  so 
hard  that  it  was  as  much  as  I  could  do,  to  get  it  back 
again.     So  /drank  it ;  and  it  did  me  good !  " 


266  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Looking  cautiously  round,  to  ascertain  that  they  were 
not  overheard,  the  two  hags  cowered  nearer  to  the  fire, 
and  chuckled  heartily. 

"  I  mind  the  time,"  said  the  first  speaker,  "  when  she 
would  have  done  the  same,  and  made  rare  fun  of  it  after- 
wards." 

"  Ay,  that  she  would,"  rejoined  the  other  ;  "  she  had  a 
merry  heart.  A  many,  many,  beautiful  corpses  she  laid 
out,  as  nice  and  neat  as  waxwork.  My  old  eyes  have 
seen  them  —  ay,  and  those  old  hands  touched  them  too  ; 
for  I  have  helped  her,  scores  of  times."  . 

Stretching  forth  her  trembling  fingers  as  she  spoke, 
the  old  creature  shook  them  exultingly  before  her  face ; 
and  fumbling  in  her  pocket,  brought  out  an  old  time-dis- 
colored tin  snuff-box,  from  which  she  shook  a  few  grains 
into  the  outstretched  palm  of  her  companion,  and  a  few 
more  into  her  own.  While  they  were  thus  employed, 
the  matron,  who  had  been  impatiently  watching  until  the 
dying  woman  should  awaken  from  her  stupor,  joined 
them  by  the  fire,  and  sharply  asked  how  long  she  was  to 
wait. 

"  Not  long,  mistress,"  replied  the  second  woman,  look- 
ing up  into  her  face.  "  We  have  none  of  us  long  to  wait 
for  Death.  Patience,  patience !  He'll  be  here  soon 
enough  for  us  all." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  you  doting  idiot !  "  said  the  mat- 
ron, sternly.  "  You,  Martha,  tell  me  ;  has  she  been  in 
this  way  before  ?  " 

"  Often,"  answered  the  first  woman. 

"  But  will  never  be  again,"  added  the  second  one, 
"  that  is,  she'll  never  wake  again  but  once  —  and  mind, 
mistress,  that  won't  be  for  long." 

"  Long  or   short,"   said   the  matron,  snappishly,  "  she 


OLIVER  TWIST.  267 

won't  find  me  here  when  she  does  wake  ;  and  take  care, 
both  of  you,  how  you  worry  me  again  for  nothing.  It's 
no  part  of  my  duty  to  see  all  the  old  women  in  the  house 
die,  and  I  won't  —  that's  more.  Mind  that,  you  impu- 
dent old  harridans.  If  you  make  a  fool  of  me  again,  I'll 
soon  cure  you,  I  warrant  you  ! " 

She  was  bouncing  away,  when  a  cry  from  the  two 
women,  who  had  turned  towards  the  bed,  caused  her  to 
look  round.  The  patient  had  raised  herself  upright,  and 
was  stretching  her  arms  towards  them. 

"  Who's  that  ?  "  she  cried,  in  a  hollow  voice. 

"  Hush,  hush  !  "  said  one  of  the  women,  stooping  over 
her.     "  Lie  down,  lie  down !  " 

"  I'll  never  he  down  again  alive ! "  said  the  woman, 
struggling.  "I  will  tell  her!  Come  here!  Nearer! 
Let  me  whisper  in  your  ear." 

She  clutched  the  matron  by  the  arm ;  and  forcing  her 
into  a  chair  by  the  bedside,  was  about  to  speak,  when 
looking  round,  she  caught  sight  of  the  two  old  women 
bending  forward  in  the  attitude  of  eager  hsteners. 

"  Turn  them  away,"  said  the  woman,  drowsily ;  "  make 
haste  !  make  haste  !  " 

The  two  old  crones,  chiming  in  together,  began  pour- 
ing out  many  piteous  lamentations  that  the  poor  dear 
was  too  far  gone  to  know  her  best  friends;  and  were 
uttering  sundry  protestations  that  they  would  never 
leave  her,  when  the  superior  pushed  them  from  the 
room,  closed  the  door,  and  returned  to  the  bedside.  On 
being  excluded,  the  old  ladies  changed  their  tone,  and 
cried  through  the  key -hole  that  old  Sally  was  drunk; 
which,  indeed,  was  not  unlikely ;  since,  in  addition  to  a 
moderate  dose  of  opium  prescribed  by  the  apothecary, 
she  was  laboring  under  the  effects  of  a  final  taste  of  gin- 


268  OLIVER  TWIST. 

and-water  which  had  been  privily  administered,  in  the 
openness  of  their  hearts,  by  the  worthy  old  ladies  them- 
selves. 

"  Now  listen  to  me,"  said  the  dying  woman,  aloud,  as 
if  making  a  great  effort  to  revive  one  latent  spark  of 
energy.  "  In  this  very  room  —  in  this  very  bed  —  I 
once  nursed  a  pretty  young  creetur',  that  was  brought 
into  the  house  with  her  feet  cut  and  bruised  with  walk- 
ing, and  all  soiled  with  dust  and  blood.  She  gave  birth 
to  a  boy,  and  died.  Let  me  think  —  what  was  the  year 
again  ?  " 

"  Never  mind  the  year,"  said  the  impatient  auditor ; 
"  what  about  her  ?  " 

"  Ay,"  murmured  the  sick  woman,  relapsing  into  her 
former  drowsy  state,  "  what  about  her  ?  —  what  about  — 
I  know  !  "  she  cried,  jumping  fiercely  ■  up  :  her  face 
flushed,  and  her  eyes  starting  from  her  head  —  "I 
robbed  her,  so  I  did  !  She  wasn't  cold  —  I  tell  you  she 
wasn't  cold,  when  I  stole  it !  " 

"  Stole  what,  for  God's  sake  ?  "  cried  the  matron,  with 
a  gesture  as  if  she  would  call  for  help. 

"  It !  "  replied  the  woman,  laying  her  hand  over  the 
other's  mouth.  "  The  only  thing  she  had.  She  wanted 
clothes  to  keep  her  warm,  and  food  to  eat ;  but  she  had 
kept  it  safe,  and  had  it  in  her  bosom.  It  was  gold,  I  tell 
you  !     Rich  gold,  that  might  have  saved  her  life ! " 

"  Gold !  "  echoed  the  matron,  bending  eagerly  over  the 
woman  as  she  fell  back.  "  Go  on,  go  on  —  yes  —  what 
of  it  ?     Who  was  the  mother  ?     When  was  it  ?  " 

"  She  charged  me  to  keep  it  safe,"  replied  the  woman 
with  a  groan,  "  and  trusted  me  as  the  only  woman  about 
her.  I  stole  it  in  my  heart  when  she  first  showed  it  me 
hanging  round  her  neck  ;  and  the  child's  death,  perhaps. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  269 

is  on  me  besides  !  They  would  have  treated  him  better, 
if  they  had  known  it  all !  " 

"  Known  what  ?  "  asked  the  other.     "  Speak  !  " 

"  The  boy  grew  so  like  his  mother,"  said  the  woman, 
rambling  on,  and  not  heeding  the  question,  "  that  I  could 
never  forget  it  when  I  saw  his  face.  Poor  girl !  poor 
girl !  She  was  so  young,  too  !  Such  a  gentle  lamb  ! 
Wait ;  there's  more  to  tell.  I  have  not  told  you  all, 
have  I  ? " 

"  No,  no,"  replied  the  matron,  inclining  her  head  to 
catch  the  words,  as  they  came  more  faintly  from  the 
dying  woman.     "  Be  quick,  or  it  may  be  too  late  !  " 

"  The  mother,"  said  the  woman,  making  a  more  violent 
effort  than  before;  "  the  mother,  when  the  pains  of  death 
first  came  upon  her,  whispered  in  my  ear  that  if  her 
baby  was  born  alive,  and  thrived,  the  day  might  come 
when  it  would  not  feel  so  much  disgraced  to  hear  its 
poor  young  mother  named.  '  And  oh,  kind  Heaven  !  * 
she  said,  folding  her  thin  hands  together,  '  whether  it  be 
boy  or  girl,  raise  up  some  friends  for  it  in  this  troubled 
world ;  and  take  pity  upon  a  lonely,  desolate  child,  aban- 
doned to  its  mercy  ! '  " 

"  The  boy's  name  ?  "  demanded  the  matron. 

"  They  called  him  Oliver,"  replied  the  woman,  feebly. 
«  The  gold  I  stole  was  " 

"  Yes,  yes  —  what  ?  "  cried  the  other. 

She  was  bending  eagerly  over  the  woman  to  hear  her 
reply ;  but  drew  back,  instinctively,  as  she  once  again 
rose,  slowly  and  stiffly,  into  a  sitting  posture ;  then, 
clutching  the  coverlid  with  both  hands,  muttered  some 
indistinct  sounds  in  her  throat,  and  fell  lifeless  on  the 
bed. 


270  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Stone  dead  !  "  said  one  of  the  old  women,  hurrying 
in  as  soon  as  the  door  was  opened. 

"  And  nothing  to  tell,  after  all,"  rejoined  the  matron, 
walking  carelessly  away. 

The  two  crones,  to  all  appearance,  too  busily  occupied 
in  the  preparations  for  their  dreadful  duties  to  make  any 
reply,  were  left  alone ;  hovering  about  the  body. 


OLIYEPw  TWIST.  271 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

WHEREIN    THIS    HISTORY   REVERTS    TO    MR.    FAGIN  AND 
COaiPANT. 

While  these  things  were  passing  in  the  country  work- 
house, Mr.  Fagin  sat  in  the  old  den  —  the  same  from 
which  Oliver  had  been  removed  by  the  girl  —  brooding 
over  a  dull,  smoky  fire.  He  held  a  pair  of  bellows  upon 
his  knee,  with  which  he  had  apparently  been  endeavor- 
ing to  rouse  it  into  more  cheerful  action ;  but  he  had 
fallen  into  deep  thought ;  and  with  his  arms  folded  on 
them,  and  his  chin  resting  on  his  thumbs,  fixed  his  eyes, 
abstractedly,  on  the  rusty  bars. 

At  a  table  behind  him,  sat  the  Artful  Dodger,  Master 
Charles  Bates,  and  Mr.  Chitling :  all  intent  upon  a 
game  of  whist ;  the  Artful  taking  dummy  against  Master 
Bates  and  Mr.  Chitling.  The  countenance  of  the  first- 
named  gentleman,  pecuUarly  intelligent  at  all  times,  ac- 
quired great  additional  interest  from  his  close  observance 
of  the  game,  and  his  attentive  perusal  of  Mr.  Chitling's 
hand ;  upon  which,  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion  served, 
he  bestowed  a  variety  of  earnest  glances  ;  wisely  regulat- 
ing his  own  play,  by  the  result  of  his  observations  upon 
his  neighbor's  cards.  It  being  a  cold  night,  the  Dodger 
wore  his  hat,  as,  indeed,  was  often  his  custom,  within 
doors.     He  also  sustained  a  clay  pipe  between  his  teeth, 


272  OLIVER  TWIST. 

which  he  only  removed  for  a  brief  space  when  he  deemed 
it  necessary  to  apply  for  refreshment  to  a  quart-pot  upon 
the  table,  which  stood  ready  filled  with  gin  and  water 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  company. 

Master  Bates  was  also  attentive  to  the  play ;  but  being 
of  a  more  excitable  nature  than  his  accomplished  friend, 
it  was  observable  that  he  more  frequently  applied  him- 
self to  the  gin  and  water ;  and  moreover  indulged  in 
many  jests  and  irrelevant  remarks,  all  highly  unbecom- 
ing a  scientific  rubber.  Indeed,  the  Artful,  presuming 
upon  their  close  attachment,  more  than  once  took  occa- 
sion to  reason  gravely  with  his  companion  upon  these 
improprieties:  all  of  which  remonstrances.  Master  Bates 
received  in  extremely  good  part ;  merely  requesting  his 
friend  to  be  "  blowed,"  or  to  insert  his  head  in  a  sack,  or 
replying  with  some  other  neatly-turned  witticism  of  a 
similar  kind:  the  happy  application  of  which  excited 
considerable  admiration  in  the  mind  of  Mr.  Chitling.  It 
was  remarkable  that  the  latter  gentleman  and  his  partner 
invariably  lost ;  and  that  the  circumstance,  so  far  from 
angering  Master  Bates,  appeared  to  afford  him  the  high- 
est amusement,  inasmuch  as  he  laughed  most  uproariously 
at  the  end  of  every  deal,  and  protested  that  he  had  never 
seen  such  a  jolly  game  in  all  his  born  days. 

"  That's  two  doubles  and  the  rub,"  said  Mr.  Chitling, 
with  a  very  long  face,  as  he  drew  half-a-crown  from  his 
waistcoat-pocket.  "I  never  see  such  a  feller  as  you, 
Jack ;  you  win  everything.  Even  when  we've  good 
cards,  Charley  and  I  can't  make  nothing  of  'em." 

Either  the  matter  or  the  manner  of  this  remark,  which 
was  made  very  ruefully,  delighted  Charley  Bates  so 
much,  that  his  consequent  shout  of  laughter  roused  the 
Jew  from  his  reverie,  and  induced  him  to  inquire  what 
was  the  matter. 


OLIVER  TWIST.  273 

"  Matter,  Fagin  !  "  cried  Charley.  "  I  wish  you  had 
watched  the  play.  Tommy  ChitHng  hasn't  won  a  point ; 
and  I  went  partners  with  him  against  the  Artful  and 
dum." 

"  Ay,  ay  !  "  said  the  Jew,  with  a  grin,  which  sufficiently 
demonstrated  that  he  was  at  no  loss  to  understand  the 
reason.     "  Try  'em  again,  Tom  ;  try  *em  again." 

"  No  more  of  it  for  me,  thankee,  Fagin,"  replied  Mr. 
Chitling ;  "  I've  had  enough.  That  ere  Dodger  has 
such  a  run  of  luck  that  there's  no  standing  again' 
him." 

"  Ha  !  ha !  my  dear,"  replied  the  Jew,  "  you  must  get 
up  very  early  in  the  morning,  to  win  against  the 
Dodger." 

"  Morning  ! "  said  Charley  Bates  ;  "  you  must  put 
your  boots  on  overnight ;  and  have  a  telescope  at  each 
eye,  and  a  opera-glass  between  your  shoulders,  if  you 
want  to  come  over  him." 

Mr.  Dawkins  received  these  handsome  compliments 
with  much  philosophy,  and  offered  to  cut  any  gentleman 
in  company,  for  the  first  picture-card,  at  a  shilling  a  time. 
Nobody  accepting  the  challenge,  and  his  pipe  being  by 
this  time  smoked  out,  he  proceeded  to  amuse  himself  by 
sketching  a  ground-plan  of  Newgate  on  the  table  with 
the  piece  of  chalk  which  had  served  him  in  lieu  of  count- 
ers ;  whistling,  meantime,  with  peculiar  shrillness. 

"  How  precious  dull  you  are,  Tommy ! "  said  the 
Dodger,  stopping  short  when  there  had  been  a  long 
silence ;  and  addressing  Mr.  Chitling.  "  What  do  you 
think  he's  thinking  of,  Fagin  ?  " 

"  How  should  I  know,  my  dear  ?  "  replied  the  Jew, 
looking  round  as  he  plied  the  bellows.  "  About  his 
losses,  maybe ;   or  the  little  retirement  in   the  country 

VOL.  I.  18 


274  OLIVER  TWIST. 

that  he's  just  left,  eh  ?  Ha !  ha !  Is  that  it,  my 
dear?" 

"  Not  a  bit  of  it,"  replied  the  Dodger,  stopping  the 
subject  of  discourse  as  Mr.  Chitling  was  about  to  reply. 
"  What  do  you  say,  Charley  ?  " 

"  I  should  say,"  replied  Master  Bates,  with  a  grin, 
"  that  he  was  uncommon  sweet  upon  Betsy.  See  how 
he's  a-blushing  !  Oh,  my  eye  !  here's  a  merry-go-round- 
er !  Tommy  Chitling's  in  love !  Oh,  Fagin,  Fagin ! 
what   a   spree  !  " 

Thoroughly  overpowered  with  the  notion  of  Mr.  Chit- 
ling  being  the  victim  of  the  tender  passion.  Master  Bates 
threw  himself  back  in  his  chair  with  such  violence,  that 
he  lost  his  balance,  and  pitched  over  upon  the  floor; 
where  (the  accident  abating  nothing  of  his  merriment) 
he  lay  at  full  length  until  his  laugh  was  over,  when  he 
resumed  his  former  position,  and  began  another. 

"  Never  mind  him,  my  dear,"  said  the  Jew,  winking  at 
Mr.  Dawkins,  and  giving  Master  Bates  a  reproving  tap 
with  the  nozzle  of  the  bellows.  "  Betsy's  a  fine  girl. 
Stick  up  to  her,  Tom.     Stick  up  to  her." 

"  What  I  mean  to  say,  Fagin,"  replied  Mr.  Chitling, 
very  red  in  the  face,  "  is,  that  that  isn't  anything  to  any- 
body here." 

"  No  more  it  is,"  replied  tlie  Jew  ;  "  Charley  will  talk. 
Don't  mind  him,  my  dear ;  don't  mind  him.  Betsy's  a 
fine  girl.  Do  as  she  bids  you,  Tom,  and  you  will  make 
your  fortune." 

"  So  I  c?a  do,  as  she  bids  me,"  replied  Mr.  Chitling ; 
"  I  shouldn't  have  been  milled,  if  it  hadn't  been  for  her 
advice.  But  it  turned  out  a  good  job  for  you  ;  didn't  it, 
Fagin !  And  what's  six  weeks  of  it  ?  It  must  come, 
sometime  or  another ;    and  why  not  in  the  winter-time 


OLIVER  TWIST.  275 

when  you  don't  want  to  go  out  a-walking  so  much  ;  eh, 
Fagin  ?  " 

"  Ah,  to  be  sure,  my  dear,"  replied  the  Jew. 

"  You  wouldn't  mind  it  again,  Tom,  would  you  ?  ^ 
asked  the  Dodger,  winking  upon  Charley  and  the  Jew, 
"  if  Bet  was  all  right  ?  " 

"  I  mean  to  say  that  I  shouldn't,"  replied  Tom,  angrily. 
"  There,  now.  Ah !  Who'll  say  as  much  as  that,  I 
should  like  to  know  ;  eh,  Fagin  ?  " 

"  Nobody,  my  dear,"  replied  the  Jew  ;  "  not  a  soul, 
Tom.  I  don't  know  one  of  'em  that  would  do  it  besides 
you  ;  not  one  of  'em,  my  dear." 

"  I  might  have  got  clear  off,  if  I'd  split  upon  her ; 
mightn't  I,  Fagin  ?  "  angrily  pursued  the  poor  half-witted 
dupe.  "  A  word  from  me  would  have  done  it ;  wouldn't 
it,  Fagin  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure  it  would,  my  dear,"  replied  the  Jew. 

"  But  I  didn't  blab  it  ;  did  I,  Fagin?"  demanded  Tom, 
pouring  question  upon  question  with  great  volubility. 

"  No,  no,  to  be  sure,"  replied  the  Jew ;  "  you  were 
too  stout-hearted  for  that.     A  deal  too  stout,  my  dear  ! " 

"  Perhaps  I  was,"  rejoined  Tom,  looking  round  ;  "  and 
if  I  was,  what's  to  laugh  at,  in  that ;  eh,  Fagin  ?  " 

The  Jew,  perceiving  that  Mr.  Chitling  was  considera- 
bly roused,  hastened  to  assure  him  that  nobody  was 
laughing  ;  and  to  prove  the  gravity  of  the  company,  ap- 
pealed to  Master  Bates,  the  principal  offender.  But, 
unfortunately,  Charley,  in  opening  his  mouth  to  reply 
that  he  was  never  more  serious  in  his  life,  was  unable  to 
prevent  the  escape  of  such  a  violent  roar,  that  the  abused 
jVIi'.  Chitling,  without  any  preliminary  ceremonies, 
rushed  across  the  room,  and  aimed  a  blow  at  the  of- 
fender, who,  being  skilful  in  evading  pursuit,  ducked  to 


276  OLIVER  TWIST. 

avoid  it ;  and  chose  his  time  so  well  that  it  lighted  on 
the  chest  of  the  meriy  old  gentleman,  and  caused  him  to 
stagger  to  the  wall,  where  he  stood  panting  for  breath, 
while  Mr.  Chitling  looked  on,  in  intense  dismay. 

"  Hark ! "  cried  the  Dodger  at  this  moment,  "  I  heard 
the  tinkler."  Catching  up  the  light,  he  crept  softly  up- 
stairs. , 

The  bell  was  rung  again,  with  some  impatience,  while 
the  party  were  in  darkness.  After  a  short  pause,  the 
Dodger  reappeared ;  and  whispered  Fagin  mysteriously. 

«  What !  "  cried  the  Jew,  "  alone  ?  " 

The  Dodger  nodded  in  the  affirmative ;  and,  shading 
the  flame  of  the  candle  with  his  hand,  gave  Charley 
Bates  a  private  intimation,  in  dumb  show,  that  he  had 
better  not  be  funny  just  then.  Having  performed  this 
friendly  office,  he  fixed  his  eyes  on  the  Jew's  face,  and 
awaited  his  directions. 

The  old  man  bit  his  yellow  fingers,  and  meditated  for 
some  seconds ;  his  face  working  with  agitation,  the  while, 
as  if  he  dreaded  something,  and  feared  to  know  the  worst. 
At  length  he  raised  his  head. 

"  Where  is  he  ?  "  he  asked. 

The  Dodger  pointed  to  the  floor  above ;  and  made  a 
gesture,  as  if  to  leave  the  room. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  Jew,  answering  the  mute  inquiry ; 
"  bring  him  down.  Hush  !  Quiet,  Charley  !  Gently, 
Tom  !     Scarce,  scarce !  " 

This  brief  direction  to  Charley  Bates,  and  his  recent 
antagonist,  was  softly  and  immediately  obeyed.  There 
was  no  sound  of  their  whereabout,  when  the  Dodger 
descended  the  stairs,  bearing  the  light  in  his  hand,  and 
followed  by  a  man  in  a  coarse  smock-frock ;  who,  after 
casting  a  hurried  glance  round  the  room,  pulled  off  a 


OLIVER  TWIST.  277 

large  wrapper  which  had  concealed  the  lower  portion  of 
his  face,  and  disclosed :  all  haggard,  unwashed,  and  un- 
shorn :  the  features  of  flash  Toby  Crackit. 

"  How  are  you,  Fagey  ?  "  said  this  worthy,  nodding  to 
the  Jew.  "  Pop  that  shawl  away  in  my  castor,  Dodger, 
so  that  I  may  know  where  to  find  it  when  I  cut ;  that's 
the  time  of  day  !  You'll  be  a  fine  young  cracksman  afore 
the  old  file  now." 

With  these  words  he  pulled  up  the  smock-frock ;  and, 
winding  it  round  his  middle,  drew  a  chair  to  the  fire,  and 
placed  his  feet  upon  the  hob. 

"  See  there,  Fagey,"  he  said,  pointing  disconsolately  to 
his  top-boots  ;  "  not  a  drop  of  Day  and  Martin  since  you 

know  when  ;  not  a  bubble  of  blacking,  by !     But 

don't  look  at  me  in  that  way,  man.  All  in  good  time  ;  I 
can't  talk  about  business  till  I've  eat  and  drank  ;  so  pro- 
duce the  sustainance,  and  let's  have  a  quiet  fill-out  for 
the  first  time  these  three  days !  " 

The  Jew  motioned  to  the  Dodger  to  place  what  eata- 
bles there  were,  upon  the  table ;  and,  seating  himself 
opposite  the  house-breaker,  waited  his  leisure. 

To  judge  from  appearances,  Toby  was  by  no  means  in 
a  hurry  to  open  the  conversation.  At  first,  the  Jew  con- 
tented himself  with  patiently  watching  his  countenance, 
as  if  to  gain  from  its  expression  some  clue  to  the  intelli- 
gence he  brought ;  but  in  vain.  He  looked  tired  and 
worn,  but  there  was  the  same  complacent  repose  upon 
his  features  that  they  always  wore  :  and  through  dirt, 
and  beard,  and  whisker,  there  still  shone,  unimpaired, 
the  self-satisfied  smirk  of  flash  Toby  Crackit.  Then  the 
Jew,  in  an  agony  of  impatience,  watched  every  morsel  he 
put  into  his  mouth  ;  pacing  up  and  down  the  room,  mean- 
while, in  in'epressible  excitement.     It  was  all  of  no  use. 


278  OLIVER  TWIST. 

Toby  continued  to  eat  with  the  utmost  outward  indiffer- 
ence, until  he  could  eat  no  more  ;  then,  ordering  the 
Dodger  out,  he  closed  the  door,  mixed  a  glass  of  spirits 
and  water,  and  composed  himself  for  talking. 

"  First  and  foremost,  Fagey,"  said  Toby. 

"  Yes,  yes  ! "  interposed  the  Jew,  drawing  up  his  chair. 

Mr.  Crackit  stopped  to  take  a  draught  of  spirits  and 
water,  and  to  declare  that  the  gin  was  excellent ;  and 
then  placing  his  feet  against  the  low  mantel-piece,  so  as 
to  bring  his  boots  to  about  the  level  of  his  eye,  quietly 
resumed, 

"  First  and  foremost,  Fagey,"  said  the  house-breaker, 
''  how's  Bill  ?  " 

"  What ! "  screamed  the  Jew,  starting  from  his  seat. 

"  Why,  you  don't  mean  to  say  " began  Tobey, 

turning  pale. 

"  Mean  !  "  cried  the  Jew,  stamping  furiously  on  the 
ground.  "  Where  are  they ?  Sikes  and  the  boy!  Where 
are  they  ?  Where  have  they  been  ?  Where  are  they 
hiding  ?     Why  have  they  not  been  here  ?  " 

"  The  crack  failed,"  said  Tobey,  faintly. 

"  I  know  it,"  replied  the  Jew,  tearing  a  newspaper 
from  his  pocket,  and  pointing  to  it.     "  What  more  ?  " 

"  They  fired,  and  hit  the  boy.  We  cut  over  the  fields 
at  the  back  with  him  between  us  —  straight  as  the  crow 
flies  —  through  hedge  and  ditch.  They  gave  chase. 
D — me  !  the  whole  country  was  awake,  and  the  dogs 
upon  us." 

"  The  boy  !  "  gasped  the  Jew. 

"  Bill  had  him  on  his  back,  and  scudded  like  the  wind. 
We  stopped  to  take  him  between  us ;  his  head  hung 
down  ;  and  he  was  cold.  They  were  close  upon  our 
heels ;  every  man  for  himself,  and  each  from  the  gal- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  279 

lows  !  "We  parted  company,  and  left  the  youngster 
lying  in  a  ditch.  Alive  or  dead,  that's  all  I  know  about 
him." 

The  Jew  stopped  to  hear  no  more ;  but  uttering  a  loud 
yell,  and  twining  his  hands  in  his  hair,  rushed  from  the 
room,  and  from  the  house. 


280  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

IN  WHICH  A  MYSTERIOUS  CHARACTER  APPEARS  UPON 
THE  SCENE  ;  AND  MANY  THINGS,  INSEPARABLE  FROM 
THIS    HISTORY,    ARE    DONE    AND    PERFORMED. 

The  old  man  had  gained  the  street- corner,  before  he 
began  to  recover  the  effect  of  Toby  Crackit's  intelli- 
gence. He  had  relaxed  nothing  of  his  unusual  speed; 
but  was  still  pressing  onward,  in  the  same  wild  and  dis- 
ordered manner,  when  the  sudden  dashing  past  of  a  car- 
riage :  and  a  boisterous  cry  from  the  foot-passengers,  who 
saw  his  danger  :  drove  him  back  upon  the  pavement. 
Avoiding,  as  much  as  possible,  all  the  main  streets ;  and 
skulking  only  through  the  by-ways  and  alleys ;  he  at 
length  emerged  on  Snow  Hill.  Here  he  walked  even 
faster  than  before  ;  nor  did  he  linger  until  he  had  again 
turned  into  a  court ;  when,  as  if  conscious  that  he  was 
now  in  his  proper  element,  he  fqll  into  his  usual  shuffling 
pace,  and  seemed  to  breathe  more  freely.  Near  to  the 
spot  on  which  Snow  Hill  and  Holborn  Hill  meet,  there 
opens :  upon  the  right  hand  as  you  come  out  of  the  city : 
a  narrow  and  dismal  alley  leading  to  Saffron  Hill.  In 
its  filthy  shops  are  exposed  for  sale,  huge  bunches  of 
second-hand  silk  handkerchiefs,  of  all  sizes  and  patterns ; 
for  here  reside  the  traders  who  purchase  them  from  pick- 
pockets.    Hundreds  of  these  handkerchiefs  hang  dang- 


OLrV'ER  TWIST.  281 

ling  from  pegs  outside  the  windows  or  flaunting  from  the 
door-post ;  and  the  shelves,  within,  are  piled  with  them. 
Confined  as  the  limits  of  Field  Lane  are,  it  has  its  bar- 
ber, its  coffee-shop,  its  beer-shop,  and  its  fried-fish  ware- 
house. It  is  a  commercial  colony  of  itself :  the  emporium 
of  petty  larceny  :  visited  at  early  morning,  and  setting-in 
of  dusk,  by  silent  merchants,  who  traffic  in  dark  back- 
parlors  ;  and  who  go  as  strangely  as  they  come.  Here, 
the  clothes-man,  the  shoe-vamper,  and  the  rag-merchant, 
display  their  goods,  as  sign-boards  to  the  petty  thief; 
here,  stores  of  old  iron  and  bones,  and  heaps  of  mildewy 
fragments  of  woollen-stuff  and  linen,  rust  and  rot  in  the 
grimy  cellars. 

It  was  into  this  place,  that  the  Jew  turned.  He  was 
well  known  to  the  sallow  denizens  of  the  lane ;  for  such 
of  them  as  were  on  the  look-out  to  buy  or  sell,  nodded 
familiarly  as  he  passed  along.  He  replied  to  their  salu- 
tations in  the  same  way  ;  but  bestowed  no  closer  recog- 
nition until  he  reached  the  farther  end  of  the  alley ; 
when  he  stopped,  to  address  a  salesman  of  small  stature, 
who  had  squeezed  as  much  of  his  person  into  a  child's 
chair  as  the  chair  would  hold :  and  was  smoking  a  pipe 
at  his  warehouse  door. 

"  Why,  the  sight  of  you,  Mr.  Fagin,  would  cure  the 
hoptalmy  ! "  said  this  respectable  trader,  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  Jew's  inquiry  after  his  health. 

"  The  neighborhood  was  a  Httle  too  hot.  Lively,"  said 
Fagin,  elevating  his  eyebrows,  and  crossing  his  hands 
upon  his  shoulders. 

"  "Well,  I've  heerd  that  complaint  of  it,  once  or  twice 
before,"  replied  the  trader ;  "  but  it  soon  cools  down 
again ;  don't  you  find  it  so  ?  " 

Fagin  nodded  in  the  aflirmative.      Pointing  in  the 


282  OLIVER  TWIST. 

direction  of  Saffron  Hill,  lie  inquired  whether  any  one 
was  up  yonder  to-night. 

"  At  the  Cripples  ?  "  inquired  the  man. 

The  Jew  nodded. 

"  Let  me  see,"  pursued  the  merchant  reflecting.  "  Yes, 
there's  some  half-dozen  of  'em  gone  in,  that  I  knows.  I 
don't  think  your  friend  's  there." 

"  Sikes  is  not,  I  suppose  ?  "  inquired  the  Jew,  with  a 
disappointed  countenance. 

"  Non  istwentus,  as  the  lawyers  say,"  replied  the  little 
man,  shaking  his  head,  and  looking  amazingly  sly.  "  Have 
you  got  anything  in  my  line  to-night  ?  " 

"  Nothing  to-night,"  said  the  Jew,  turning  away. 

"  Are  you  going  up  to  the  Cripples,  Fagin  ? "  cried 
the  little  man,  calling  after  him.  "  Stop  !  I  don't  mind 
if  I  have  a  drop  there  with  you  ! " 

But  as  the  Jew,  looking  back,  waved  his  hand  to  inti- 
mate that  he  preferred  being  alone ;  and,  moreover,  as 
the  little  man  could  not  very  easily  disengage  himself  from 
the  chair ;  the  sign  of  the  Cripples  was,  for  a  time,  bereft 
of  the  advantage  of  Mr.  Lively's  presence.  By  the  time 
he  had  got  upon  his  legs,  the  Jew  had  disappeared ;  so 
Mr.  Lively,  after  ineffectually  standing  on  tiptoe,  in  the 
hope  of  catching  sight  of  him,  again  forced  himself  into 
the  little  chair :  and,  exchanging  a  shake  of  the  head 
with  a  lady  in  the  opposite  shop,  in  which  doubt  and 
mistrust  were  plainly  mingled,  resumed  his  pipe  with  a 
grave  demeanor. 

The  Three  Cripples,  or  rather  the  Cripples  :  which 
was  the  sign  by  which  the  establishment  was  familiarly 
known  to  its  patrons  :  was  the  same  public-house  in 
which  Mr.  Sikes  and  his  dog  have  already  figured. 
Merely  making   a   sign   to  a   man   at  the   bar,  Fagin 


OLIVER  TWIST.  283 

walked  straight  up-stairs  ;  and  opening  tlie  door  of  a 
room,  and  softly  insinuating  himself  into  the  chamber, 
looked  anxiously  about :  shading  his  eyes  with  his  hand, 
as  if  in  search  of  some  particular  person. 

The  room  was  illuminated  by  two  gas-lights ;  the  glare 
of  which  was  prevented  by  the  barred  shutters,  and 
closely-drawn  curtains  of  faded  red,  from  being  visible 
outside.  The  ceihng  was  blackened,  to  prevent  its  color 
from  being  injured  by  the  flaring  of  the  lamps  ;  and  the 
place  was  so  full  of  dense  tobacco-smoke,  that  at  first  it 
was  scarcely  possible  to  discern  anything  more.  By  de- 
grees, however,  as  some  of  it  cleared  away  through  the 
open  door,  an  assemblage  of  heads,  as  confused  as  the 
noises  that  greeted  the  ear,  might  be  made  out ;  and  as 
the  eye  grew  more  accustomed  to  the  scene,  the  spectator 
gradually  became  aware  of  the  presence  of  a  numerous 
company,  male  and  female,  crowded  round  a  long  table  : 
at  the  upper  end  of  which,  sat  a  chairman  with  a  ham- 
mer of  office  in  his  hand ;  while  a  professional  gentle- 
man, with  a  bluish  nose,  and  his  face  tied  up  for  the 
benefit  of  a  toothache,  presided  at  a  jingling  piano  in  a 
remote  corner. 

As  Fagin  stepped  softly  in,  the  professional  gentleman, 
running  over  the  keys  by  way  of  prelude,  occasioned 
a  general  cry  of  order  for  a  song  ;  which,  having  sub- 
sided, a  young  lady  proceeded  to  entertain  the  company 
with  a  ballad  in  four  verses,  between  each  of  which  the 
accompanyist  played  the  melody,  all  through,  as  loud  as 
he  could.  When  this  was  over,  the  chairman  gave  a  sen- 
timent; after  which,  the  professional  gentlemen  on  the 
chairman's  right  and  left  volunteered  a  duet :  and  sang  it, 
with  great  applause. 

It  was  curious  to  observe  some  faces  which  stood  out 


284  OLIVER  TWIST. 

prominently  from  among  the  group.  There  was  the 
chairman  himself,  (the  landlord  of  the  house,)  a  coarse, 
rough,  heavy-built  fellow,  who,  while  the  songs  were  pro- 
ceeding, rolled  his  eyes  hither  and  thither,  and,  seeming 
to  give  himself  up  to  joviality,  had  an  eye  for  everything 
that  was  done,  and  an  ear  for  everything  that  was  said  — 
and  sharp  ones,  too.  Near  him,  were  the  singers :  re- 
ceiving, with  professional  indifference,  the  compliments 
of  the  company :  and  applying  themselves,  in  turn,  to  a 
dozen  proffered  glasses  of  spirits  and  water,  tendered  by 
their  more  boisterous  admirers  ;  whose  countenances,  ex- 
pressive of  almost  every  vice  in  almost  every  grade,  irre- 
sistibly attracted  the  attention  by  their  very  repulsiveness. 
Cunning,  ferocity,  and  drunkenness  in  all  its  stages,  were 
there,  in  their  strongest  aspects  ;  and  women  :  some  with 
the  last  lingering  tinge  of  their  early  freshness,  almost 
fading  as  you  looked  :  others  with  every  mark  and  stamp 
of  their  sex  utterly  beaten  out,  and  presenting  but  one 
loathsome  blank  of  profligacy  and  crime  :  some  mere 
girls,  others  but  young  women,  and  none  past  the  prime 
of  life  :  formed  the  darkest  and  saddest  portion  of  this 
dreary  picture. 

Fagin,  troubled  by  no  grave  emotions,  looked  eagerly 
from  face  to  face  while  these  proceedings  were  in  prog- 
ress ;  but,  apparently,  without  meeting  that  of  which  he 
was  in  search.  Succeeding,  at  length,  in  catching  the  eye 
of  the  man  who  occupied  the  chair,  he  beckoned  to  him 
slightly,  and  left  the  room,  as  quietly  as  he  had  entered  it. 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you,  Mr.  Fagin  ? "  inquired  the 
man,  as  he  followed  him  out  to  the  landing.  "Won't 
you  join  us?     They'll  be  delighted,  every  one  of  'em." 

The  Jew  shook  his  head  impatiently,  and  said  in  a 
whisper,  "  Is  he  here  ?  " 


OLIVER  T^YIST.  285 

"  No,"  replied  the  man. 

"  And  no  news  of  Barney  ?  "  inquired  Fagin. 

"  None,"  replied  the  landlord  of  The  Cripples ;  for  it 
was  he.  "  He  won't  stir  till  it's  all  safe.  Depend  on  it, 
they're  on  the  scent  down  there  ;  and  that  if  he  moved, 
he'd  blow  upon  the  thing  at  once.  He's  all  right  enough, 
Barney  is,  else  I  should  have  heard  of  him.  I'll  pound 
it,  that  Barney's  managing  properly.  Let  him  alone  for 
that." 

"  Will  he  be  here  to-night  ?  "  asked  the  Jew,  laying  the 
same  emphasis  on  the  pronoun  as  before. 

"  Monks,  do  you  mean  ?  "  inquired  the  landlord,  hesi- 
tating. 

"  Hush  !  "  said  the  Jew.     «  Yes.'' 

"  Certain,"  replied  the  man,  drawing  a  gold  watch  from 
his  fob ;  "  I  expected  him  here,  before  now.  If  you'll 
wait  ten  minutes,  he'll  be  " 

"  No,  no,"  said  the  Jew,  hastily ;  as  though,  however 
desirous  he  might  be  to  see  the  person  in  question,  he 
was  nevertheless  relieved  by  his  absence.  "  Tell  him  I 
came  here  to  see  him  ;  and  that  he  must  come  to  me  to- 
night. No,  say  to-morrow.  As  he  is  not  here,  to-morrow 
will  be  time  enough." 

"  Good ! "  said  the  man.     "  Nothing  more  ?  " 

"  Not  a  word  now,"  said  the  Jew,  descending  the 
stairs. 

"  I  say,"  said  the  other,  looking  over  the  rails,  and 
speaking  in  a  hoarse  whisper ;  "  what  a  time  this  would 
be  for  a  sell !  I've  got  Phil  Barker  here :  so  drunk, 
that  a  boy  might  take  him." 

"Aha!  But  it's  not  Phil  Barker's  time,"  said  the  Jew, 
looking  up.  "  Phil  has  something  more  to  do,  before  we 
can  afford  to  part  with  him  ;  so  go  back  to  the  company, 


286  OLIVER  TWIST. 

my  dear,  and  tell  them  to  lead  merry  lives  —  while  they 
last.     Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  " 

The  landlord  reciprocated  the  old  man's  laugh,  and 
returned  to  his  guests.  The  Jew  was  no  sooner  alone, 
than  his  countenance  resumed  its  former  expression  of 
anxiety  and  thought.  After  a  brief  reflection,  he  called 
a  hack-cabriolet,  and  bade  the  man  drive  towards  Beth- 
nal  Green.  He  dismissed  him  within  some  quarter  of  a 
mile  of  Mr.  Sikes's  residence  ;  and  performed  the  short 
remainder  of  the  distance  on  foot. 

"  Now,"  muttered  the  Jew,  as  he  knocked  at  the  door, 
"  if  there  is  any  deep  play  here,  I  shall  have  it  out  of 
you,  my  girl,  cunning  as  you  are." 

She  was  in  her  room,  the  woman  said.  Fagin  crept 
softly  up-stairs,  and  entered  it  without  any  previous  cer- 
emony. The  girl  was  alone ;  lying  with  her  head  upon 
the  table,  and  her  hair  straggling  over  it. 

"  She  has  been  drinking,"  thought  the  Jew,  coolly,  "  or 
perhaps  she  is  only  miserable." 

The  old  man  turned  to  close  the  door,  as  he  made 
this  reflection ;  and  the  noise  thus  occasioned,  roused  the 
girl.  She  eyed  his  crafty  face  narrowly,  as  she  inquired 
whether  there  was  any  news,  and  listened  to  his  recital 
of  Toby  Crackit's  story.  When  it  was  concluded,  she 
sank  into  her  former  attitude,  but  spoke  not  a  word. 
She  pushed  the  candle  impatiently  away  ;  and  once  or 
twice,  as  she  feverishly  changed  her  position,  shuffled 
her  feet  upon  the  ground ;  but  this  was  all. 

During  this  silence,  the  Jew  looked  restlessly  about 
the  room,  as  if  to  assure  himself  that  there  were  no 
appearances  of  Sikes  having  covertly  returned.  Ap- 
parently satisfied  with  his  inspection,  he  coughed  twice 
or  thrice,  and  made  as  many  efforts  to  open  a  conversa- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  287 

tion ;  but  the  girl  heeded  him  no  more  than  if  he  had 
been  made  of  stone.  At  length  he  made  another  at- 
tempt ;  and,  rubbing  his  hands  together,  said,  in  his 
most  conciliatory  tone, 

"  And  where  should  you  think  Bill  was  now,  my 
dear  ?  " 

The  girl  moaned  out  some  half  intelligible  reply,  that 
she  could  not  tell ;  and  seemed,  from  the  smothered  noise 
that  escaped  her,  to  be  crying. 

"  And  the  boy,  too,"  said  the  Jew,  straining  his  eyes  to 
catch  a  glimpse  of  her  face.  "  Poor  leetle  child  !  Left 
in  a  ditch,  Nance  ;  only  think  !  " 

"  The  child,"  said  the  girl,  suddenly  looking  up,  "  is 
better  where  he  is,  than  among  us ;  and  if  no  harm 
comes  to  Bill  from  it,  I  hope  he  lies  dead  in  the  ditch, 
and  that  his  young  bones  may  rot  there." 

'•  TVhat !  "  cried  the  Jew,  in  amazement. 

"  Ay,  I  do,"  returned  the  girl,  meeting  his  gaze.  "  I 
shall  be  glad  to  have  him  away  from  my  eyes,  and  to 
know  that  the  worst  is  over.  I  can't  bear  to  have  him 
about  me.  The  sight  of  him  turns  me  against  myself, 
and  all  of  you." 

"  Pooh  !  "  said  the  Jew,  scornfully.     "  You're  drunk." 

"  Am  I  ?  "  cried  the  girl,  bitterly.  "  It's  no  fault  of 
yours,  if  I  am  not !  you'd  never  have  me  anything  else, 
if  you  had  your  will,  except  now ;  —  the  humor  doesn't 
suit  you,  doesn't  it  ?  " 

"  No  !  "  rejoined  the  Jew,  furiously.     "  It  does  not." 

"  Change  it,  then  !  "  responded  the  girl,  with  a  laugh. 

'•  Change  it ! "  exclaimed  the  Jew,  exasperated  beyond 
all  bounds  by  his  companion's  unexpected  obstinacy,  and 
the  vexation  of  the  night,  "  I  will  change  it !  Listen 
to  me,  you  drab.     Listen  to  me,  who,  with  six  words, 


288  OLIVER  TWIST. 

can  strangle  Sikes  as  surely  as  if  I  had  his  bull's  throat 
between  my  fingers  now.  If  he  comes  back,  and  leaves 
that  boy  behind  him,  —  if  he  gets  off  free ;  and,  dead  or 
alive,  fails  to  restore  him  to  me  ;  murder  him  yourself 
if  you  would  have  him  escape  Jack  Ketch :  and  do  it 
the  moment  he  sets  foot  in  this  room,  or  mind  me,  it 
will  be  too  late  !  " 

"  What  is  all  this  ?  "  cried  the  girl,  involuntarily. 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  pursued  Fagin,  mad  with  rage.  "  When 
the  boy  's  worth  hundreds  of  pounds  to  me,  am  I  to  lose 
what  chance  threw  me  in  the  way  of  getting  safely, 
through  the  whims  of  a  drunken  gang  that  I  could 
whistle  away  the  lives  of?  And  me  bound,  too,  to  a 
born  devil  that  only  wants  the  will,  and  has  the  power 
to,  to" 

Panting  for  breath,  the  old  man  stammered  for  a 
word ;  and  in  that  instant  checked  the  torrent  of  his 
wrath,  and  changed  his  whole  demeanor.  A  moment 
before,  his  clenched  hands  had  grasped  the  air ;  his 
eyes  had  dilated ;  and  his  face  grown  livid  with  pas- 
sion ;  but  now,  he  shrunk  into  a  chair,  and,  cowering 
together,  trembled  with  the  apprehension  of  having 
himself  disclosed  some  hidden  villany.  After  a  short  si- 
lence, he  ventured  to  look  round  at  his  companion.  He 
appeared  somewhat  reassured,  on  beholding  her  in  the 
same  listless  attitude  from  which  he  had  first  roused  her. 

"  Nancy,  dear !  "  croaked  the  Jew,  in  his  usual  voice. 
"  Did  you  mind  me,  dear  ? " 

"  Don't  worry  me  now,  Fagin  !  "  replied  the  girl,  rais- 
ing her  head  languidly.  "  If  Bill  has  not  done  it  this 
time,  he  will  another.  He  has  done  many  a  good  job 
for  you,  and  will  do  many  more  when  he  can  ;  and  when 
he  can't,  he  won't ;  so  no  more  about  that." 


OLIVER  TWIST.  289 

"  Regarding  this  boy,  my  dear  ?  "  said  the  Jew,  rub- 
bing the  pahns  of  his  hands  nervously  together. 

"  The  boy  must  take  his  chance  with  the  rest,"  inter- 
rupted Nancy,  hastily  ;  "  and  I  say  again,  I  hope  he  is 
dead,  and  out  of  harm's  way,  and  out  of  yours,  —  that 
is,  if  Bill  comes  to  no  harm.  And  if  Toby  got  clear 
off,  he's  pretty  sure  to  be  safe  ;  for  he's  worth  two  of 
him  any  time." 

"  And  about  what  I  was  saying,  my  dear  ?  "  observed 
the  Jew,  keeping  his  glistening  eye  steadily  upon  her. 

"  You  must  say  it  all  over  again,  if  it's  anything  you 
want  me  to  do,"  rejoined  Nancy  ;  "  and  if  it  is,  you  had 
better  wait  till  to-morrow.  You  put  me  up  for  a  minute ; 
but  now  I'm  stupid  again." 

Fagin  put  several  other  questions :  all  with  the  same 
drift  of  ascertaining  whether  the  girl  had  profited  by  his 
unguarded  hints ;  but,  she  answered  them  so  readily,  and 
was  withal  so  utterly  unmoved  by  his  searching  looks, 
that  his  original  impression  of  her  being  more  than  a 
trifle  in  liquor,  was  confirmed.  Nancy,  indeed,  was  not 
exempt  from  a  failing  which  was  very  common  among 
the  Jew's  female  pupils ;  and  in  which,  in  their  tenderer 
years,  they  were  rather  encouraged  than  checked.  Her 
disordered  appearance,  and  a  wholesale  perfume  of 
Geneva  which  pervaded  the  apartment,  afforded  strong 
confirmatory  evidence  of  the  justice  of  the  Jew's  supposi- 
tion ;  and  when,  after  indulging  in  the  temporary  display 
of  violence  above  described,  she  subsided,  first  into  dul- 
ness,  and  afterwards  into  a  compound  of  feelings  :  under 
the  influence  of  which,  she  shed  tears  one  minute,  and 
in  the  next  gave  utterance  to  various  exclamations  of 
"  Never  say  die ! "  and  divers  calculations  as  to  what 
might  be  the  amount  of  the  odds  so  long  as  a  lady  or 

VOL.  I.  19 


290  OLIVER  TWIST. 

gentleman  was  happy,  Mr.  Fagin,  who  had  had  con- 
siderable experience  of  such  matters  in  his  time,  saw, 
with  great  satisfaction,  that  she  was  very  far  gone  in- 
deed. 

Having  eased  his  mind  by  this  discovery ;  and  having 
accomplished  his  twofold  object  of  imparting  to  the  girl 
what  he  had  that  night  heard,  and  of  ascertaining,  with 
his  own  eyes,  that  Sikes  had  not  returned,  Mr.  Fagin 
again  turned  his  face  homeward ;  leaving  his  young 
friend  asleep,  with  her  head  upon  the  table. 

It  was  within  an  hour  of  midnight.  The  weather 
being  dark,  and  piercing  cold,  he  had  no  great  tempta- 
tion to  loiter.  The  sharp  wind  that  scoured  the  streets, 
seemed  to  have  cleared  them  of  passengers,  as  of  dust 
and  mud,  for  few  people  were  abroad,  and  they  were  to 
all  appearance  hastening  ffist  home.  It  blew  from  the 
right  quarter  for  the  Jew,  however,  and  straight  before 
it  he  went :  trembling,  and  shivering,  as  every  fresh  gust 
drove  him  rudely  on  his  way. 

He  had  reached  the  corner  of  his  own  street,  and  was 
already  fumbling  in  his  pocket  for  the  door-key,  when  a 
dark  figure  emerged  from  a  projecting  entrance  which 
lay  in  deep  shadow,  and,  crossing  the  road,  glided  up  to 
him  unperceived. 

"  Fagin  !  "  whispered  a  voice  close  to  his  ear. 

"  Ah ! "  said  the  Jew,  turning  quickly  round,  "  is 
that " 

"  Yes !  "  interrupted  the  stranger.  "  I  have  been 
lingering  here  these  two  hours.  Where  the  devil  have 
you  been  ?  " 

"  On  your  business,  my  dear,"  replied  the  Jew,  glanc- 
ing uneasily  at  his  companion,  and  slackening  his  pace 
as  he  spoke.     "  On  your  business  all  night." 


OLIVER  TWIST.  291 

"  Oh,  of  course ! "  said  the  stranger,  with  a  sneer. 
"  Well ;  and  what's  come  of  it  ?  " 

"  Nothing  good,"  said  the  Jew. 

"Nothing  bad,  I  hope?"  said  the  stranger,  stopping 
short,  and  turning  a  startled  look  on  his  companion. 

The  Jew  shook  his  head,  and  was  about  to  reply, 
when  the  stranger,  interrupting  him,  motioned  to  the 
house,  before  which  they  had  by  this  time  arrived :  re- 
marking, that  he  had  better  say  what  he  had  got  to  say, 
under  cover  :  for  his  blood  was  chilled  with  standing  about 
so  long,  and  the  wind  blew  through  him. 

Fagin  looked  as  if  he  could  have  willingly  excused 
himself  from  taking  home  a  visitor  at  that  unseasonable 
hour ;  and,  indeed,  muttered  something  about  having 
no  fire  ;  but  his  companion  repeating  his  request  in  a 
peremptory  manner,  he  unlocked  the  door,  and  requested 
him  to  close  it  softly,  while  he  got  a  hght. 

"  It's  as  dark  as  the  grave,"  said  the  man,  groping  for- 
ward a  few  steps.     "  Make  haste  !  " 

"  Shut  the  door,"  whispered  Fagin  from  the  end  of  the 
passage.     As  he  spoke,  it  closed  with  a  loud  noise. 

"  That  wasn't  my  doing,"  said  the  other  man,  feeling 
his  way.  "  The  wind  blew  it  to,  or  it  shut  of  its  own 
accord  :  one  or  the  other.  Look  sharp  with  the  light,  or 
I  shall  knock  my  brains  out  against  something  in  this 
confounded  hole." 

Fagin  stealthily  descended  the  kitchen-stairs.  After 
a  short  absence,  he  returned  with  a  lighted  candle,  and 
the  intelligence  that  Toby  Crackit  was  asleep  in  the  back 
room  below,  and  the  boys  in  the  front  one.  Beckoning 
the  man  to  follow  him,  he  led  the  way  up-stairs. 

"  We  can  say  the  few  words  we've  got  to  say  in  here, 
my  dear,"  said  the  Jew,  throwing  open  a  door  on  the 


292  OLIVER  TWIST. 

fii'st  floor ;  "  and  as  there  are  holes  in  the  shutters,  and 
we  never  show  Hghts  to  our  neighbors,  we'll  set  the  can- 
dle on  the  stairs.     There  !  " 

With  these  words,  the  Jew,  stooping  down,  placed  the 
candle  on  an  upper  flight  of  stairs,  exactly  opposite  to 
the  room-door.  This  done,  he  led  the  way  into  the 
apartment ;  which  was  destitute  of  all  movables  save  a 
broken  arm-chair,  and  an  old  couch  or  sofa  without  cov- 
ering, which  stood  behind  the  door.  Upon  this  piece  of 
furniture,  the  stranger  sat  himself  with  the  air  of  a  weary 
man ;  and  the  Jew,  drawing  up  the  arm-chair  opposite, 
they  sat  face  to  face.  It  was  not  quite  dark,  for  the 
door  was  partially  open,  and  the  candle  outside  threw  a 
feeble  reflection  on  the  opposite  wall. 

They  conversed  for  some  time  in  whispers.  Though 
nothing  of  the  conversation  was  distinguishable  beyond 
a  few  disjointed  words  here  and  there,  a  hstener  might 
easily  have  perceived  that  Fagin  appeared  to  be  defend- 
ing himself  against  some  remarks  of  the  stranger ;  and 
that  the  latter  was  in  a  state  of  considerable  irritation. 
They  might  have  been  talking,  thus,  for  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  or  more,  when  Monks  —  by  which  name  the  Jew 
had  designated  the  strange  man  several  times  in  the 
course  of  the  colloquy  —  said,  raising  his  voice  a  little, 

"  I  tell  you  again  it  was  badly  planned.  Why  not 
have  kept  him  here  among  the  rest,  and  made  a  sneak- 
ing, snivelling  pickpocket  of  him  at  once  ?  " 

"  Only  hear  him ! "  exclaimed  the  Jew,  shrugging  his 
shoulders. 

"  Why,  do  you  mean  to  say  you  couldn't  have  done 
it,  if  you  had  chosen?"  demanded  Monks,  sternly. 
"  Haven't  you  done  it,  with  other  boys,  scores  of  times  ? 
If  you  had  had  patience  for  a  twelvemonth,  at  most, 


OLIVER  TWIST.  293 

couldn't  you  have  got  him  convicted,  and  sent  safely  out 
of  the  kingdom  ;  perhaps  for  life  ?  " 

"  Whose  turn  would  that  have  served,  my  dear  ?  "  in- 
quired the  Jew,  humbly. 

"  Mine,"  rephed  Monks. 

"  But  not  mine,"  said  the  Jew,  submissively.  "  He 
might  have  become  of  use  to  me.  When  there  are  two 
parties  to  a  bargain  it  is  only  reasonable  that  the  inter- 
ests of  both  should  be  consulted  ;  is  it,  my  good  friend  ?  " 

"  What  then  ?  "  demanded  Monks. 

"  I  saw  it  was  not  easy  to  train  him  to  the  business," 
replied  the  Jew ;  "  he  was  not  like  other  boys  in  the 
same  circumstances." 

"  Curse  him,  no  !  "  muttered  the  man,  "or  he  would 
have  been  a  thief,  long  ago." 

"  I  had  no  hold  upon  him  to  make  him  worse,"  pur- 
sued the  Jew,  anxiously  watching  the  countenance  of  his 
companion.  "  His  hand  was  not  in.  I  had  nothing  to 
frighten  him  with ;  which  we  always  must  have  in  the 
beginning,  or  we  labor  in  vain.  What  could  I  do? 
Send  him  out  with  the  Dodger  and  Charley  ?  We  had 
enough  of  that,  at  first,  my  dear ;  I  trembled  for  us  all." 

"  That  was  not  my  doing,"  observed  Monks. 

"  No,  no,  my  dear ! "  renewed  the  Jew.  "  And  I  don't 
quarrel  with  it  now  ;  because,  if  it  had  never  happened, 
you  might  never  have  clapped  eyes  upon  the  boy  to 
notice  him,  and  so  led  to  the  discovery  that  it  was  him 
you  were  looking  for.  Well !  I  got  him  back  for  you 
by  means  of  the  girl ;  and  then  she  begins  to  favor  him." 

"  Throttle  the  girl ! "  said  Monks,  impatiently. 

"  Why,  we  can't  afford  to  do  that  just  now,  my  dear," 
replied  the  Jew,  smiling;  "and,  besides,  that  sort  of 
thing  is  not  in  our  way ;  or,  one  of  these  days,  I  might 


294  OLIVER  TWIST. 

be  glad  to  have  it  done.  I  know  what  these  girls  are, 
Monks,  well.  As  soon  as  the  boy  begins  to  harden, 
she'll  care  no  more  for  him,  than  for  a  block  of  wood. 
You  want  him  made  a  thief.  If  he  is  alive,  I  can  make 
him  one  from  this  time;  and  if — if"  —  said  the  Jew, 
drawing  nearer  to  the  other,  —  "  it's  not  likely,  mind,  — 
but  if  the  worst  comes  to  the  worst,  and  he  is  dead  "  — 

"  It's  no  fault  of  mine  if  he  is ! "  interposed  the  other 
man,  with  a  look  of  terror,  and  clasping  the  Jew's  arm 
with  trembling  hands.  "  Mind  that,  Fagin  !  I  had  no 
hand  in  it.  Anything  but  his  death,  I  told  you  from  the 
first.  I  won't  shed  blood  ;  it's  always  found  out,  and 
haunts  a  man  besides.  If  they  shot  him  dead,  I  was  not 
the  cause ;  do  you  hear  me  ?  Fire  this  infernal  den  ! 
What's  that?" 

"  What !  "  cried  the  Jew,  grasping  the  coward  round 
the  body,  with  both  arms,  as  he  sprung  to  his  feet. 
«  Where  ?  " 

"  Yonder ! "  replied  the  man,  glaring  at  the  opposite 
wall.  "  The  shadow !  I  saw  the  shadow  of  a  woman, 
in  a  cloak  and  bonnet,  pass  along  the  wainscot  like  a 
breath!" 

The  Jew  released  his  hold  ;  and  they  rushed  tumultu- 
ously  from  the  room.  The  candle  wasted  by  the  draught, 
was  standing  where  it  had  been  placed.  It  showed  them, 
only  the  empty  staircase,  and  their  own  white  faces. 
They  listened  intently ;  but  a  profound  silence  reigned 
throughout  the  house. 

"  It's  your  fancy,"  said  the  Jew,  taking  up  the  light, 
and  turning  to  his  companion. 

"  I'll  swear  I  saw  it ! "  replied  Monks,  trembling.  "  It 
was  bending  forward  when  I  saw  it  first ;  and  when  I 
spoke,  it  darted  away." 


OLIVER  TWIST.  295 

The  Jew  glanced,  contemptuously,  at  the  pale  face  of 
his  associate  ;  and,  telling  him  he  could  follow,  if  he 
pleased,  ascended  the  stairs.  They  looked  into  all  the 
rooms ;  they  were  cold,  bare,  and  empty.  They  de- 
scended into  the  passage,  and  thence  into  the  cellars 
below.  The  green  damp  hung  upon  the  low  walls ;  and 
the  tracks  of  the  snail  and  slug  glistened  in  the  light  of 
the  candle ;  but  all  was  still  as  death. 

"  What  do  you  think  now  ?  "  said  the  Jew,  when  they 
had  regained  the  passage.  "Besides  ourselves,  there's  not 
a  creature  in  the  house  except  Toby  and  the  boys ;  and 
they're  safe  enough.     See  here  !  " 

As  a  proof  of  the  fact,  the  Jew  drew  forth  two  keys 
from  his  pocket ;  and  explained,  that  when  he  first  went 
down-stairs,  he  had  locked  them  in,  to  prevent  any  in- 
trusion on  the  conference. 

This  accumulated  testimony  effectually  staggered  Mr. 
Monks.  His  protestations  had  gradually  become  less 
and  less  vehement  as  they  proceeded  in  their  search 
without  making  any  discovery ;  and,  now,  he  gave  vent 
to  several  very  grim  laughs,  and  confessed  it  could  only 
have  been  his  excited  imagination.  He  declined  any  re- 
newal of  the  conversation,  however,  for  that  night :  sud- 
denly remembering  that  it  was  past  one  o'clock.  And 
so  the  amiable  couple  parted. 


296  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

ATONES  FOR  THE  UNPOLITENESS  OF  A  FORMER  CHAP- 
TER ;  WHICH  DESERTED  A  LADY,  MOST  UNCEREMO- 
NIOUSLY. 

As  it  would  be  by  no  means  seemly  in  a  humble  au- 
thor to  keep  so  mighty  a  personage  as  a  beadle  waiting, 
with  his  back  to  the  fire,  and  the  skirts  of  his  coat  gath- 
ered up  under  his  arms,  until  such  time  as  it  might  suit 
his  pleasure  to  reheve  him ;  and  as  it  would  still  less  be- 
come his  station,  or  his  gallantry,  to  involve  in  the  same 
neglect  a  lady  on  whom  that  beadle  had  looked  with  an 
eye  of  tenderness  and  affection,  and  in  whose  ear  he  had 
whispered  sweet  words,  which,  coming  from  such  a  quar- 
ter, might  well  thrill  the  bosom  of  maid  or  matron  of 
whatsoever  degree  ;  the  historian  whose  pen  traces  these 
words  —  trusting  that  he  knows  his  place,  and  that  he 
entertains  a  becoming  reverence  for  those  upon  earth  to 
whom  high  and  important  authority  is  delegated  —  has- 
tens to  pay  them  that  respect  which  their  position  de- 
mands, and  to  treat  them  with  all  that  duteous  ceremony 
which  their  exalted  rank,  and  (by  consequence)  great 
virtues,  imperatively  claim  at  his  hands.  Towards  this 
end,  indeed,  he  had  purposed  to  introduce,  in  this  place, 
a  dissertation  touching  the  divine  right  of  beadles,  and 
elucidative  of  the  position,  that   a  beadle   can   do  no 


OLIVER  TWIST.  297 

wrong :  which  could  not  fail  to  have  been  both  pleas- 
urable and  profitable  to  the  right-minded  reader,  but, 
which  he  is  unfortunately  compelled,  by  want  of  time  and 
space,  to  postpone  to  some  more  convenient  and  fitting 
opportunity  ;  on  the  arrival  of  which,  he  will  be  pre- 
pared to  show,  that  a  beadle  properly  constituted :  that 
is  to  say,  a  parochial  beadle,  attached  to  a  parochial  work- 
house, and  attending  in  his  official  capacity  the  parochial 
church :  is,  in  right  and  virtue  of  his  office,  possessed  of 
all  the  excellences  and  best  qualities  of  humanity ;  and 
that  to  none  of  those  excellences,  can  mere  companies' 
beadles,  or  court-of-law  beadles,  or  even  chapel-of-ease 
beadles  (save  the  last,  and  they  in  a  very  lowly  and  in- 
ferior degree),  lay  the  remotest  sustainable  claim. 

Mr.  Bumble  had  re-counted  the  tea-spoons,  re-weighed 
the  sugar-tongs,  made  a  closer  inspection  of  the  milk-pot, 
and  ascertained  to  a  nicety  the  exact  condition  of  the 
furniture,  doAvn  to  the  very  horse-hair  seats  of  the  chairs ; 
and  had  repeated  each  process  full  half-a-dozen  times ; 
before  he  began  to  think  that  it  was  time  for  Mrs.  Cor- 
ney  to  return.  Thinking  begets  thinking  ;  and,  as  there 
were  no  sounds  of  Mrs.  Corney's  approach,  it  occurred  to 
Mr.  Bumble  that  it  would  be  an  innocent  and  virtuous 
way  of  spending  the  time,  if  he  were  further  to  allay  his 
curiosity  by  a  cursory  glance  at  the  interior  of  Mrs.  Cor- 
ney's chest  of  drawers. 

Having  listened  at  the  key-hole,  to  assure  himself  that 
nobody  was  approaching  the  chamber,  Mr.  Bumble,  be- 
ginning at  the  bottom,  proceeded  to  make  himself  ac- 
quainted with  the  contents  of  the  three  long  drawers  : 
which,  being  filled  with  various  garments  of  good  fashion 
and  texture,  carefully  preserved  between  two  layers  of 
old  newspapers,  speckled  with  dried  lavender  :  seemed  to 


298  OLIVER  TWIST. 

yield  him  exceeding  satisfaction.  Arriving,  in  course  of 
time,  at  the  right-hand  corner  drawer  (in  which  was  the 
key),  and  beholding  therein  a  small  padlocked  box,  which, 
being  shaken,  gave  forth  a  pleasant  sound,  as  of  the 
chinking  of  coin,  Mr.  Bumble  returned  with  a  stately 
walk  to  the  fireplace;  and,  resuming  his  old  attitude, 
said,  with  a  grave  and  determined  air,  "  I'll  do  it !  "  He 
followed  up  this  remarkable  declaration,  by  shaking  his 
head  in  a  waggish  manner  for  ten  minutes,  as  though  he 
were  remonstrating  with  himself  for  being  such  a  pleas- 
ant dog ;  and  then,  he  took  a  view  of  his  legs  in  profile 
with  much  seeming  pleasure  and  interest. 

He  was  still  placidly  engaged  in  this  latter  survey, 
when  Mrs.  Corney,  hurrying  into  the  room,  threw  her- 
self in  a  breathless  state,  on  a  chair  by  the  fireside  ;  and 
covering  her  eyes  with  one  hand,  placed  the  other  over 
her  heart,  and  gasped  for  breath. 

"  Mrs.  Corney,"  said  Mr.  Bumble,  stooping  over  the 
matron,  "  what  is  this,  ma'am  ?  has  anything  happened, 
ma'am  ?  Pray  answer  me  ;  I'm  on  —  on  "  —  Mr.  Bum- 
ble, in  his  alarm,  could  not  immediately  think  of  the 
word  "  tenter-hooks,"  so  he  said,  "  broken  bottles." 

"  Oh,  Mr.  Bumble  ! "  cried  the  lady,  "  I  have  been  so 
dreadfully  put  out ! " 

"  Put  out,  ma'am  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bumble  ;  "  who  has 
dared  to  —  ?  I  know  !  "  said  Mr.  Bumble,  checking  him- 
self, with  native  majesty,  "  this  is  them  wicious  paupers!" 

"  It's  dreadful  to  think  of !  "  said  the  lady,  shuddering. 

"  Then  don't  think  of  it,  ma'am,"  rejoined  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  whimpered  the  lady. 

"Then  take  something,  ma'am,"  said  Mr.  Bumble, 
soothingly.     "A  little  of  the  wine?" 

"Not   for   the   world!"  replied   Mrs.    Corney.      "I 


OLIVER  TWIST.  299 

couldn't,  —  oil !  The  top  shelf  in  the  right-hand  corner 
—  oh !  "  Uttering  these  words,  the  good  lady  pointed, 
distractedly,  to  the  cupboard,  and  underwent  a  convul- 
sion from  internal  spasms.  Mr.  Bumble  rushed  to  the 
closet ;  and,  snatching  a  pint  green-glass  bottle  from  the 
shelf  thus  incoherently  indicated,  filled  a  teacup  with  its 
contents,  and  held  it  to  the  lady's  lips. 

"  I'm  better  now,"  said  Mrs.  Corney,  falling  back,  after 
drinking  half  of  it. 

Mr.  Bumble  raised  his  eyes  piously  to  the  ceiling  in 
thankfulness ;  and,  bringing  them  down  again  to  the 
brim  of  the  cup,  lifted  it  to  his  nose. 

"  Peppermint,"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Corney,  in  a  faint 
voice,  smiling  gently  on  the  beadle  as  she  spoke.  "  Try 
it !     There's  a  little  —  a  little  something  else  in  it." 

Mr.  Bumble  tasted  the  medicine  with  a  doubtful  look ; 
smacked  his  lips ;  took  another  taste ;  and  put  the  cup 
down  empty. 

"  It's  very  comforting,"  said  Mrs.  Corney. 

"  Very  much  so  indeed,  ma'am,"  said  the  beadle.  As 
he  spoke,  he  drew  a  chair  beside  the  matron,  and  tenderly 
inquired  what  had  happened  to  distress  her. 

"Nothing,"  replied  Mrs.  Corney.  "I  am  a  foolish, 
excitable,  weak  creetur." 

"  Not  weak,  ma'am,"  retorted  Mr.  Bumble,  drawing  his 
chair  a  little  closer.  "  Are  you  a  weak  creetur,  Mrs. 
Corney?" 

"  We  are  all  weak  creeturs,"  said  Mrs.  Corney,  laying 
down  a  general  principle. 

"  So  we  are,"  said  the  beadle. 

Nothing  was  said,  on  either  side,  for  a  minute  or  two 
afterwards.  By  the  expiration  of  that  time,  Mr.  Bum- 
ble had  illustrated  the  position  by  removing  his  left  arm 


300  OLIVER  TWIST. 

from  the  "back  of  Mrs.  Cornej's  chair,  where  it  had 
previously  rested,  to  Mrs.  Corney's  apron-string,  round 
which  it  gradually  became  entwined. 

"  We  are  all  weak  creeturs,"  said  Mr.  Bumble. 

Mrs.  Corney  sighed. 

"  Don't  sigh,  Mrs.  Corney,"  said  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  I  can't  help  it,"  said  Mrs.  Corney.  And  she  sighed 
again. 

"  This  is  a  very  comfortable  room,  ma'am,"  said  Mr. 
Bumble,  looking  round.  "  Another  room  and  this,  ma'am, 
would  be  a  complete  thing." 

"  It  would  be  too  much  for  one,"  murmured  the  lady. 

"  But  not  for  two,  ma'am,"  rejoined  Mr.  Bumble,  in 
soft  accents.     "  Eh,  Mrs.  Corney  ?  " 

Mrs.  Corney  drooped  her  head,  when  the  beadle  said 
this ;  the  beadle  drooped  his,  to  get  a  view  of  Mrs.  Cor- 
ney's face.  Mrs.  Corney,  with  great  propriety,  turned 
her  head  away,  and  released  her  hand  to  get  at  her 
pocket-handkerchief;  but  insensibly  replaced  it  in  that 
of  Mr.  Bumble. 

"  The  board  allow  you  coals,  don't  they,  Mrs.  Corney?" 
inquired  the  beadle,  affectionately  pressing  her  hand. 

"  And  candles,"  replied  Mrs.  Corney,  slightly  return- 
ing the  pressure. 

"  Coals,  candles,  and  house-rent  free,"  said  Mr.  Bum- 
ble.    "  Oh,  Mrs.  Corney,  Avhat  a  Angel  you  are  ! " 

The  lady  was  not  proof  against  this  burst  of  feeling. 
She  sunk  into  Mr.  Bumble's  arms  ;  and  that  gentleman, 
in  his  agitation,  imprinted  a  passionate  kiss  upon  her 
chaste  nose. 

"  Such  porochial  perfection  ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bumble, 
rapturously.  "  You  know  that  Mr.  Slout  is  worse  to- 
night, my  fascinator  ?  " 


OLIVER  TWIST.  oOl 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mrs.  Corney,  bashfully. 

"  He  can't  live  a  week,  the  doctor  says,"  pursued  Mr. 
Bumble.  "  He  is  the  master  of  this  establishment ;  his 
death  will  cause  a  wacancy  ;  that  wacancy  must  be  filled 
up.  Oh,  Mrs.  Corney,  what  a  prospect  this  opens !  What 
a  opportunity  for  a  joining  of  hearts  and  house-keepings  !" 

Mrs.  Corney  sobbed. 

"  The  little  word  ?  "  said  Mr.  Bumble,  bending  over 
the  bashful  beauty.  "  The  one  little,  little,  little  word, 
my  blessed  Corney  ?  " 

"  Ye  —  ye  —  yes  ! "  sighed  out  the  matron. 

"  One  more,"  pursued  the  beadle  ;  "  compose  your  dar- 
ling feelings  for  only  one  more.    When  is  it  to  come  off  ?  " 

Mrs.  Corney  twice  essayed  to  speak ;  and  twice  failed. 
At  length,  summoning  up  courage,  she  threw  her  arms 
round  Mr.  Bumble's  neck,  and  said,  it  might  be  as  soon 
as  ever  he  pleased,  and  that  he  was  "  a  irresistible  duck." 

Matters  being  thus  amicably  and  satisfactorily  arranged, 
the  contract  was  solemnly  ratified  in  another  teacupful  of 
the  peppermint  mixture  ;  which  was  rendered  the  more 
necessary,  by  the  flutter  and  agitation  of  the  lady's  spirits. 
While  it  was  being  disposed  of,  she  acquainted  Mr.  Bum- 
ble with  the  old  woman's  decease. 

"  Very  good,"  said  that  gentleman,  sipping  his  pepper- 
mint. "  I'll  call  at  Sowerberry's  as  I  go  home,  and  tell 
him  to  send  to-morrow  morning.  Was  it  that  as  fright- 
ened you,  love  ?  " 

"  It  wasn't  anything  particular,  dear,"  said  the  lady, 
evasively. 

"  It  must  have  been  something,  love,"  urged  Mr.  Bum- 
ble.    "  Won't  you  tell  your  own  B.  ?  " 

"  Not  now,"  rejoined  the  lady  ;  "  one  of  these  days. 
After  we're  married,  dear." 


302  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  After  we're  married  ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bumble.  "  It 
wasn't  any  impudence  from  any  of  them  male  paupers 
as" 

"  No,  no,  love  ! "  interposed  tlie  lady,  hastily. 

"  If  I  thought  it  was,"  continued  Mr.  Bumble  ;  "  if  I 
thought  as  any  one  of  'em  had  dared  to  lift  his  wulgar 
eyes  to  that  lovely  countenance  " 

"  They  wouldn't  have  dared  to  do  it,  love,"  responded 
the  lady. 

"■  They  had  better  not ! "  said  Mr.  Bumble,  clenching 
his  fist.  "  Let  me  see  any  man,  porochial,  or  extra-poro- 
chial,  as  would  presume  to  do  it ;  and  I  can  tell  him  that 
he  wouldn't  do  it  a  second  time  ! " 

Unembellished  by  any  violence  of  gesticulation,  this 
might  have  seemed  no  very  high  compliment  to  the 
lady's  charms ;  but,  as  Mr.  Bumble  accompanied  the 
threat  with  many  warlike  gestures,  she  was  much 
touched  with  this  proof  of  his  devotion,  and  protested, 
with  great  admiration,  that  he  was  indeed  a  dove. 

The  dove  then  turned  up  his  coat-collar,  and  put  ou 
his  cocked-hat ;  and,  having  exchanged  a  long  and  affec- 
tionate embrace  with  his  future  partner,  once  again 
braved  the  cold  wind  of  the  night :  merely  pausing,  for 
a  few  minutes,  in  the  male  paupers'  ward,  to  abuse  them 
a  little,  with  the  view  of  satisfying  himself  that  he  could 
fill  the  oJEfice  of  workhouse-master  with  needful  acerbity. 
Assured  of  his  qualifications,  Mr.  Bumble  left  the  build- 
ing with  a  light  heart,  and  bright  visions  of  his  future 
promotion  :  which  served  to  occupy  his  mind  until  he 
reached  the  shop  of  the  undertaker. 

Now,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sowerberry  having  gone  out  to 
tea  and  supper :  and  Noah  Claypole  not  being  at  any 
time  disposed  to  take  upon  himself  a  greater  amount  of 


OLR'ER   TWIST.  303 

physical  exertion  than  is  necessary  to  a  convenient  per- 
formance of  the  two  functions  of  eating  and  drinking, 
the  shop  was  not  closed,  although  it  was  past  the  usual 
hour  of  shutting  up.  Mr.  Bumble  tapped  with  his  cane 
on  the  counter  several  times  ;  but,  attracting  no  atten- 
tion, and  beholding  a  light  shining  through  the  glass-win- 
dow of  the  little  parlor  at  the  back  of  the  shop,  he  made 
bold  to  peep  in  and  see  what  was  going  forward ;  and, 
when  he  saw  what  ivas  going  forward,  he  w^as  not  a  little 
surprised. 

The  cloth  was  laid  for  supper ;  the  table  was  covered 
with  bread  and  butter,  plates,  and  glasses  :  a  porter-pot, 
and  a  wine-bottle.  At  the  upper  end  of  the  table,  IVIr. 
Noah  Claypole  lolled  negligently  in  an  easy-chair,  with 
his  legs  thrown  over  one  of  the  arms :  an  open  clasp- 
knife  in  one  hand,  and  a  mass  of  buttered  bread  in  the 
other.  Close  beside  him  stood  Charlotte,  opening  oys- 
ters from  a  barrel :  which  Mr.  Claypole  condescended  to 
swallow,  with  remarkable  avidity.  A  more  than  ordi- 
nary redness  in  the  region  of  the  young  gentleman's 
nose,  and  a  kind  of  fixed  wink  in  his  right  eye,  denoted 
that  he  was  in  a  slight  degree  intoxicated ;  these  symp- 
toms were  confirmed  by  the  intense  relish  with  which  he 
took  his  oysters,  for  which  nothing  but  a  strong  apprecia- 
tion of  their  cooling  properties,  in  cases  of  internal  fever, 
could  have  sufiiciently  accounted. 

"  Here's  a  delicious  fat  one,  Noah,  dear  ! "  said  Char- 
lotte ;  "  try  him,  do  ;  only  this  one." 

"  What  a  delicious  thing  is  a  oyster  ! "  remarked  Mr. 
Claypole,  after  he  had  swallowed  it.  "  What  a  pity  it 
is,  a  number  of  'era  should  ever  make  you  feel  uncom- 
fortable ;  isn't  it,  Charlotte  ?  " 

"  It's  quite  a  cruelty,"  said  Charlotte. 


304  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  So  it  is,"  acquiesced  Mr.  Claypole.  "  A'n't  yer  fond 
of  oysters  ?  " 

"  Not  overmuch,"  replied  Charlotte.  "  I  like  to  see 
you  eat  'em,  Noah  dear,  better  than  eating  'em  myself." 

"  Lor' ! "  said  Noah,  reflectively  ;  "  how  queer  !  " 

"  Have  another,"  said  Charlotte.  "  Here's  one  with 
such  a  beautiful,  delicate  beard  ! " 

"  I  can't  manage  any  more,"  said  Noah.  "  I'm  very 
sorry.     Come  here,  Charlotte,  and  I'll  kiss  yer." 

"  What ! "  said  Mr.  Bumble,  bursting  into  the  room. 
"  Say  that  again,  sir." 

Charlotte  uttered  a  scream,  and  hid  her  face  in  her 
apron.  Mr.  Claypole,  without  making  any  further  change 
in  his  position  than  suffering  his  legs  to  reach  the  ground, 
gazed  at  the  beadle  in  drunken  terror. 

"  Say  it  again,  you  wile,  owdacious  fellow  ! "  said  Mr. 
Bumble.  "  How  dare  you  mention  such  a  thing,  sir  ? 
And  how  dare  you  encourage  him,  you  insolent  minx  ? 
Kiss  her !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Bumble,  in  strong  indigna- 
tion.    "  Faugh  ! " 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  do  it ! "  said  Noah,  blubbering. 
"  She's  always  a-kissing  of  me,  whether  I  like  it,  or  not." 

"  Oh,  Noah,"  cried  Charlotte,  reproachfully. 

"  Yer  are ;  yer  know  yer  are  ! "  retorted  Noah.  "  She's 
always  a-doing  of  it,  Mr.  Bumble,  sir;  she  chucks  me 
under  the  chin,  please,  sir ;  and  makes  all  manner  of 
love ! " 

"  Silence  ! "  cried  Mr.  Bumble,  sternly.  "  Take  your- 
self down-stairs,  ma'am.  Noah,  you  shut  up  the  shop  ; 
say  another  word  till  your  master  comes  home,  at  your 
peril ;  and,  when  he  does  come  home,  tell  him  that  Mr. 
Bumble  said  he  was  to  send  a  old  woman's  shell  after 
breakfast  to-morrow  morning.    Do  you  hear,  sir  ?    Kiss- 


OLIVER  TWIST.  305 

ing  !  "  cried  Mr.  Bumble,  holding  up  his  hands.  "  The 
sin  and  wickedness  of  the  lower  orders  in  this  porochial 
district  is  frightful !  If  parliament  don't  take  their  abom- 
inable courses  under  consideration,  this  country's  ruined, 
and  the  character  of  the  peasantry  gone  forever  ! "  With 
these  words,  the  beadle  strode,  with  a  lofty  and  gloomy 
air,  from  the  undertaker's  premises. 

And  now  that  we  have  accompanied  him  so  far  on  his 
road  home,  and  have  made  all  necessary  preparations  for 
the  old  woman's  funeral,  let  us  set  on  foot  a  few  inquiries 
after  young  Oliver  Twist,  and  ascertain  whether  he  be 
still  lying  in  the  ditch  where  Toby  Crackit  left  him. 


20 


306  OLIVER  TWIST. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

LOOKS   AFTER    OLIVER,  AND    PROCEEDS   WITH   HIS   AD- 
VENTURES. 

"  Wolves  tear  your  throats  !  "  muttered  Sikes,  grind- 
ing his  teeth.  "I  wish  I  was  among  some  of  you  ;  you'd 
howl  the  hoarser  for  it." 

As  Sikes  growled  forth  this  imprecation,  with  the  most 
desperate  ferocity  that  his  desperate  nature  was  capable 
of,  he  rested  the  body  of  the  wounded  boy  across  his 
bended  knee ;  and  turned  his  head,  for  an  instant,  to 
look  back  at  his  pursuers. 

There  was  little  to  be  made  out,  in  the  mist  and 
darkness ;  but  the  loud  shouting  of  men  vibrated  through 
the  air :  and  the  barking  of  the  neighboring  dogs,  roused 
by  the  sound  of  the  alarm-bell,  resounded  in  every  direc- 
tion. 

"Stop,  you  white-livered  hound!"  cried  the  robber, 
shouting  after  Toby  Crackit,  who,  making  the  best  use 
of  his  long  legs,  was  already  ahead.     "  Stop  ! " 

The  repetition  of  the  word,  brought  Toby  to  a  dead 
stand-still.  For  he  was  not  quite  satisfied  that  he  was 
beyond  the  range  of  pistol-shot ;  and  Sikes  was  in  no 
mood  to  be  played  with. 

"  Bear  a  hand  with  the  boy,"  cried  Sikes,  beckoning 
furiously  to  his  confederate.     "  Come  back  ! " 

Toby  made  a  show  of  returning ;  but  ventured,  in  a 


OLIVER  TWIST.  307 

low  voice,  broken  for  want  of  breath,  to  intimate  consid- 
erable reluctance  as  he  came  slowly  along. 

"  Quicker ! "  cried  Sikes^  laying  the  boy  in  a  dry  ditch 
at  his  feet,  and  drawing  a  pistol  from  his  pocket.  "  Don't 
play  booty  with  me." 

At  this  moment  the  noise  grew  louder.  Sikes,  again 
looking  round,  could  discern  that  the  men  who  had  given 
chase  were  already  climbing  the  gate  of  the  field  in  which 
he  stood ;  and  that  a  couple  of  dogs  were  some  paces  in 
advance  of  them. 

"  It's  all  up.  Bill !  "  cried  Toby  ;  «  drop  the  kid,  and 
show  'em  your  heels."  With  this  parting  advice,  Mr. 
Crackit :  preferring  the  chance  of  being  shot  by  his 
friend,  to  the  certainty  of  being  taken  by  his  enemies  : 
fairly  turned  tail,  and  darted  off  at  full  speed.  Sikes 
clenched  his  teeth ;  took  one  look  round  ;  threw  over 
the  prostrate  form  of  Oliver,  the  cape  in  which  he  had 
been  hurriedly  muffled ;  ran  along  the  front  of  the 
hedge,  as  if  to  distract  the  attention  of  those  behind, 
from  the  spot  where  the  boy  lay  ;  paused,  for  a  second, 
before  another  hedge  which  met  it  at  right  angles ;  and 
whirling  his  pistol  high  into  the  air,  cleared  it  at  a 
bound,  and  was  gone. 

"  Ho,  ho,  there  !  "  cried  a  tremulous  voice  in  the 
rear.     "  Pincher !  Neptune  !     Come  here,  come  here  !  " 

The  dogs,  who,  in  common  with  their  masters,  seemed 
to  have  no  particular  relish  for  the  sport  in  which  they 
were  engaged,  readily  answered  to  the  command.  Three 
men,  who  had  by  this  time  advanced  some  distance  into 
the  field,  stopped  to  take  counsel  together. 

"  My  advice,  or,  leastways,  I  should  say,  my  orders, 
is,"  said  the  fattest  man  of  the  party,  "  that  we  'medi- 
ately go  home  again." 


308  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  I  am  agreeable  to  anything  which  is  agreeable  to 
Mr.  Giles,"  said  a  shorter  man ;  who  was  by  no  means 
of  a  slim  figure,  and  who  was  very  pale  in  the  face,  and 
very  polite  :  as  frightened  men  frequently  are. 

"  I  shouldn't  wish  to  appear  ill-mannered,  gentlemen," 
said  the  third,  who  had  called  the  dogs  back,  "  Mr.  Giles 
ought  to  know." 

"  Certainly,"  replied  the  shorter  man  ;  "  and  whatever 
Mr.  Giles  says,  it  isn't  our  place  to  contradict  him.  No, 
no,  I  know  my  sitiwation  !  Thank  my  stars,  I  know  my 
sitiwation."  To  tell  the  truth,  the  little  man  did  seem  to 
know  his  situation,  and  to  know  perfectly  well  that  it  was 
by  no  means  a  desirable  one ;  for  his  teeth  chattered  in 
his  head  as  he  spoke. 

"  You  are  afraid,  Brittles,"  said  Mr.  Giles. 

"  I  a'n't,"  said  Brittles. 

"  You  are,"  said  Giles. 

''  You're  a  falsehood,  Mr.  Giles,"  said  Brittles. 

''  You're  a  lie,  Brittles,"  said  Mr.  Giles. 

Now,  these  four  retorts  arose  from  Mr.  Giles's  taunt ; 
and  Mr.  Giles's  taunt  had  arisen  from  his  indignation  at 
having  the  responsibility  of  going  home  again,  imposed 
upon  himself  under  cover  of  a  compliment.  The  third 
man  brought  the  dispute  to  a  close,  most  philosophically. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is,  gentlemen,"  said  he,  "  we're  all 
afraid." 

"  Speak  for  yourself,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Giles,  who  was  the 
palest  of  the  party. 

"  So  I  do,"  replied  the  man.  "  It's  natural  and  proper 
to  be  afraid,  under  such  circumstances,     /am." 

"  So  am  I,"  said  Brittles  ;  "  only  there's  no  call  to  tell 
a  man  he  is,  so  bounceably." 

These  frank   admissions  softened  Mr.  Giles,  who  at 


OLIVER  TWIST.  309 

once  owned  that  he  was  afraid  ;  upon  which,  they  all 
three  faced  ai)out,  and  ran  back  again  with  the  complet- 
est  unanimity,  until  Mr.  Giles  (who  had  the  shortest 
wind  of  the  party,  and  was  encumbered  with  a  pitch- 
fork) most  handsomely  insisted  on  stopping,  to  make  an 
apology  for  his  hastiness  of  speech. 

"  But  it's  wonderful,"  said  Mr.  Giles,  when  he  had 
explained,  "  what  a  man  will  do,  when  his  blood  is  up. 
I  should  have  committed  murder  —  I  know  I  should  — 
if  we'd  caught  one  of  them  rascals." 

As  the  other  two  were  impressed  with  a  similar  pre- 
sentiment; and  as  their  blood,  like  his,  had  all  gone  down 
again  ;  some  speculation  ensued  upon  the  cause  of  this 
sudden  change  in  their  temperament. 

"  I  know  what  it  was,"  said  Mr.  Giles  ;  "  it  was  the 
gate." 

"  I  shouldn't  wonder  if  it  was,"  exclaimed  Brittles, 
catching  at  the  idea. 

"  You  may  depend  upon  it,"  said  Giles,  "  that  that  gate 
stopped  the  flow  of  the  excitement.  I  felt  all  mine  sud- 
denly going  away,  as  I  was  climbing  over  it." 

By  a  remarkable  coincidence,  the  other  two  had  been 
visited  with  the  same  unpleasant  sensation  at  that  pre- 
cise moment.  It  was  quite  obvious,  therefore,  that  it 
was  the  gate  ;  especially  as  there  was  no  doubt  regard- 
ing the  time  at  which  the  change  had  taken  place,  be- 
cause all  three  remembered  that  they  had  come  in  sight 
of  the  robbers  at  the  instant  of  its  occurrence. 

This  dialogue  was  held  between  the  two  men  who  had 
surprised  the  burglars,  and  a  travelling  tinker,  who  had 
been  sleeping  in  an  out-house,  and  who  had  been  roused, 
together  with  his  two  mongrel  curs,  to  join  in  the  pursuit. 
ISIr.  Giles  acted  in  the  double  capacity  of  butler  and 


310  OLIVER  TWIST. 

steward  to  the  old  ladj  of  the  mansion ;  and  Brittles 
was  a  lad  of  all-work  :  who,  having  entered  her  service 
a  mere  child,  was  treated  as  a  promising  young  boy 
still,  though  he  was  something  past  thirty. 

Encouraging  each  other  with  such  converse  as  this ; 
but,  keeping  very  close  together,  notwithstanding,  and 
looking  apprehensively  round,  whenever  a  fresh  gust 
rattled  through  the  boughs,  the  three  men  hurried  back 
to  a  tree,  behind  which  they  had  left  their  lantern,  lest 
its  light  should  inform  the  thieves  in  what  direction  to 
fire.  Catching  up  the  light,  they  made  the  best  of  their 
way  home,  at  a  good  round  trot ;  and  long  after  their 
dusky  forms  had  ceased  to  be  discernible,  it  might  have 
been  seen  twinkling  and  dancing  in  the  distance,  like 
some  exhalation  of  the  damp  and  gloomy  atmosphere 
through  which  it  was  swiftly  borne. 

The  air  grew  colder,  as  day  came  slowly  on  ;  and  the 
mist  rolled  along  the  ground  like  a  dense  cloud  of  smoke. 
The  grass  was  wet ;  the  pathways,  and  low  places,  were 
all  mire  and  water ;  and  the  damp  breath  of  an  unwhole- 
some wind  went  languidly  by,  with  a  hollow  moaning. 
Still,  Oliver  lay  motionless  and  insensible  on  the  spot 
where  Sikes  had  left  him. 

Morning  drew  on  apace.  The  air  became  more  sharp 
and  piercing,  as  its  first  dull  hue  :  the  death  of  night, 
rather  than  the  birth  of  day :  glimmered  faintly  in  the 
sky.  The  objects  which  had  looked  dim  and  terrible 
in  the  darkness,  grew  more  and  more  defined,  and  grad- 
ually resolved  into  their  familiar  shapes.  The  rain  came 
down,  thick  and  fast,  and  pattered,  noisily,  among  the 
leafless  bushes.  But,  Oliver  felt  it  not,  as  it  beat  against 
him  ;  for  he  still  lay  stretched,  helpless  and  unconscious, 
on  his  bed  of  clay. 


OLITEPw  TWIST.  311 

At  length,  a  low  cry  of  pain  broke  the  stillness  that 
prevailed ;  and  uttering  it,  the  boy  awoke.  His  left 
arm,  rudely  bandaged  in  a  shawl,  hung  heavy  and  use- 
less at  his  side  :  and  the  bandage  was  saturated  with 
blood.  He  was  so  weak,  that  he  could  scarcely  raise 
himself  into  a  sitting  posture  ;  when  he  had  done  so,  he 
looked  feebly  round  for  help,  and  groaned  with  pain. 
Trembling  in  every  joint  from  cold  and  exhaustion,  he 
made  an  effort  to  stand  upright;  but,  shuddering  from 
head  to  foot,  fell  prostrate  on  the  ground. 

After  a  short  return  of  the  stupor  in  which  he  had 
been  so  long  plunged,  Oliver :  urged  by  a  creeping  sick- 
ness at  his  heart,  which  seemed  to  warn  him  that  if  he 
lay  there,  he  must  surely  die  :  got  upon  his  feet,  and 
essayed  to  walk.  His  head  was  dizzy,  and  he  staggered 
to  and  fro  like  a  drunken  man.  But  he  kept  up,  never- 
theless, and,  with  his  head  drooping  languidly  on  his 
breast,  went  stumbling  onward,  he  knew  not  whither. 

And  now,  hosts  of  bewildering  and  confused  ideas 
came  crowding  on  his  mind.  He  seemed  to  be  still 
walking  between  Sikes  and  Crackit,  who  were  angrily 
disputing :  for  the  very  words  they  said,  sounded  in  his 
ears  ;  and  when  he  caught  his  own  attention,  as  it  were, 
by  making  some  violent  effort  to  save  himself  from  fall- 
ing, he  found  that  he  was  talking  to  them.  Then  he 
was  alone  with  Sikes,  plodding  on,  as  they  had  done,  the 
previous  day ;  and  as  shadowy  people  passed  them,  he 
felt  the  robber's  grasp  upon  his  wrist.  Suddenly,  he 
started  back  at  the  report  of  fire-arms ;  and  there  rose 
into  the  air,  loud  cries  and  shouts ;  hghts  gleamed  before 
bis  eyes ;  and  all  was  noise  and  tumult,  as  some  unseen 
hand  bore  him  hurriedly  away.  Through  all  these 
rapid  visions,  there  ran  an  undefined,  uneasy  conscious- 


312  OLIVER  TWIST. 

ness  of  pain,  which  wearied  and  tormented  him,  in- 
cessantly. 

Thus  he  staggered  on,  creeping,  almost  mechanically, 
between  the  bars  of  gates,  or  through  hedge-gaps  as  they 
came  in  his  way,  until  he  reached  a  road.  Here  the 
rain  began  to  fall,  so  heavily,  that  it  roused  him. 

He  looked  about,  and  saw  that  at  no  great  distance 
there  was  a  house,  which  perhaps  he  could  reach.  Pity- 
ing his  condition,  they  might  have  compassion  on  him ; 
and  if  they  did  not,  it  would  be  better,  he  thought,  to  die 
near  human  beings,  than  in  the  lonely,  open  fields.  He 
summoned  up  all  his  strength  for  one  last  trial ;  and 
bent  his  faltering  steps  towards  it. 

As  he  drew  nearer  to  this  house,  a  feeling  came  over 
him  that  he  had  seen  it  before.  He  remembered  nothing 
of  its  details ;  but  the  shape  and  aspect  of  the  building 
seemed  familiar  to  him. 

That  garden  wall !  On  the  grass  inside  he  had  fallen 
on  his  knees  last  night,  and  prayed  the  two  men's  mercy. 
It  was  the  very  same  house  they  had  attempted  to  rob. 

Oliver  felt  such  fear  come  over  him  when  he  recog- 
nized the  place,  that,  for  the  instant,  he  forgot  the  agony 
of  his  wound,  and  thought  only  of  flight.  Fhght !  He 
could  scarcely  stand;  and  if  he  were  in  full  possession 
of  all  the  best  powers  of  his  slight  and  youthful  frame, 
whither  could  he  fly  ?  He  pushed  against  the  garden- 
gate;  it  was  unlocked,  and  swung  open  on  its  hinges. 
He  tottered  across  the  lawn  ;  chmbed  the  steps  ;  knocked 
faintly  at  the  door ;  and,  his  whole  strength  failing  him, 
sunk  down  against  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  little  portico. 

It  happened  that  about  this  time,  Mr.  Giles,  Brittles, 
and  the  tinker,  were  recruiting  themselves,  after  the 
fatigues  and  terrors  of  the  night,  with  tea  and  sundries, 


OLIVER  TWIST.  313 

in  the  kitchen.  Not  that  it  was  Mr.  Giles's  habit  to 
admit  to  too  great  famiharity  the  humbler  servants :  tow- 
ards whom  it  was  rather  his  wont  to  deport  himself  with 
a  lofty  affability,  which,  while  it  gratified,  could  not  fail 
to  remind  them  of  his  superior  position  in  society.  But 
death,  fires,  and  burglary,  make  all  men  equals  ;  so  Mr. 
Giles  sat  with  his  legs  stretched  out  before  the  kitchen 
fender,  leaning  his  left  arm  on  the  table,  while,  with  his 
right,  he  illustrated  a  circumstantial  and  minute  account 
of  the  robbery,  to  which  his  hearers  (but  especially  the 
cook  and  housemaid,  who  were  of  the  party)  listened 
with  breathless  interest. 

"It  was  about  half-past  two,"  said  Mr.  Giles,  "or  I 
wouldn't  swear  that  it  mightn't  have  been  a  little  nearer 
three,  when  I  woke  up,  and,  turning  round  in  my  bed, 
as  it  might  be  so,  (here  Mr.  Giles  turned  round  in  his 
chair,  and  pulled  the  comer  of  the  table-cloth  over  him 
to  imitate  bedclothes,)  I  fancied  I  heerd  a  noise." 

At  this  point  of  the  narrative  the  cook  turned  pale,  and 
asked  the  housemaid  to  shut  the  door,  who  asked  Brit- 
tles,  who  asked  the  tinker,  who  pretended  not  to  hear. 

— "  Heerd  a  noise,"  continued  Mr.  Giles.  "  I  says,  at 
first,  '  This  is  illusion  ; '  and  was  composing  myself  off  to 
sleep,  when  I  heerd  the  noise  again,  distinct." 

"  What  sort  of  a  noise  ?  "  asked  the  cook. 

"A  kind  of  a  busting  noise,"  replied  Mr.  Giles,  looking 
round  him. 

"  More  like  the  noise  of  powdering  an  iron  bar  on  a 
nutmeg-grater,"  suggested  Brittles. 

"  It  was,  when  you  heerd  it,  sir,"  rejoined  Mr.  Giles ; 
"  but,  at  this  time,  it  had  a  busting  sound.  I  turned 
down  the  clothes ; "  continued  Giles,  rolling  back  the 
table-cloth,  "  sat  up  in  bed ;  and  listened." 


314  OLIVER  TWIST. 

The  cook  and  housemaid  simultaneously  ejaculated 
"  Lor' !  "  and  drew  their  chairs  closer  together. 

"  I  heerd  it  now,  quite  apparent,"  resumed  Mr.  Giles. 
"  '  Somebody,'  I  says,  '  is  forcing  of  a  door,  or  window  ; 
what's  to  be  done  ?  I'll  call  up  that  poor  lad,  Brittles, 
and  save  him  from  being  murdered  in  his  bed ;  or  his 
throat,'  I  says,  '  may  be  cut  from  his  right  ear  to  his  left, 
without  his  ever  knowing  it.' " 

Here,  all  eyes  were  turned  upon  Brittles,  who  fixed 
his  upon  the  speaker,  and  stared  at  him,  with  his  mouth 
wide  open,  and  his  face  expressive  of  the  most  unmiti- 
gated horror. 

"  I  tossed  off  the  clothes,"  said  Giles,  throwing  away 
the  table-cloth,  and  looking  very  hard  at  the  cook 
and  housemaid,  "  got  softly  out  of  bed ;  drew  on  a  pair 
of"  — 

"  Ladies  present,  Mr.  Giles,"  murmured  the  tinker. 

—  "Of  shoes,  sir,"  said  Giles,  turning  upon  him,  and 
laying  great  emphasis  on  the  word  ;  "  seized  the  loaded 
pistol  that  always  goes  up-stairs  with  the  plate-basket ; 
and  walked  on  tiptoes  to  his  room.  'Brittles,'  I  says, 
when  I  had  woke  him,  '  don't  be  frightened ! ' " 

"  So  you  did,"  observed  Brittles,  in  a  low  voice. 

" '  We're  dead  men,  I  think,  Brittles,'  I  says,"  con- 
tinued Giles  ;  " '  but  don't  be  frightened.'  " 

"  Was  he  frightened  ?  "  asked  the  cook. 

"Not  a  bit  of  it,"  replied  Mr.  Giles.  "He  was  as 
firm  —  ah  !  pretty  near  as  firm  as  I  was." 

"  I  should  have  died  at  once,  I'm  sure,  if  it  had  been 
me,"  observed  the  housemaid. 

"  You're  a  woman,"  retorted  Brittles,  plucking  up  a 
little. 

"  Brittles  is  right,"  said  Mr.  Giles,  nodding  his  head, 


OLIVER  TWIST.  315 

approvingly ;  "  from  a  woman,  nothing  else  was  to  be 
expected.  We,  being  men,  took  a  dark  lantern,  that 
was  standing  on  Brittles's  hob ;  and  groped  our  way 
down-stairs  in  the  pitch  dark,  —  as  it   might  be  so." 

Mr.  Giles  had  risen  from  his  seat,  and  taken  two  steps 
with  his  eyes  shut,  to  accompany  his  description  with 
appropriate  action,  when  he  started  violently,  in  common 
with  the  rest  of  the  company,  and  hurried  back  to  his 
chair.     The  cook  and  housemaid  screamed. 

"  It  was  a  knock,"  said  Mr.  Giles,  assuming  perfect 
serenity.     "Open  the  door,   somebody." 

Nobody  moved. 

"  It  seems  a  strange  sort  of  a  thing,  a  knock  coming  at 
such  a  time  in  the  morning,"  said  Mr.  Giles,  surveying 
the  pale  faces  which  surrounded  him,  and  looking  very 
blank  himself;  "  but  the  door  must  be  opened.  Do  you 
hear,  somebody  ?  " 

Mr.  Giles,  as  he  spoke,  looked  at  Brittles;  but  that 
young  man,  being  naturally  modest,  probably  considered 
himself  nobody,  and  so  held  that  the  inquiry  could  not 
have  any  application  to  him  ;  at  all  events,  he  tendered 
no  reply.  Mr.  Giles  directed  an  appealing  glance  at  the 
tinker ;  but  he  had  suddenly  fallen  asleep.  The  women 
were  out  of  the  question. 

"  If  Brittles  would  rather  open  the  door,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  witnesses,"  said  Mr.  Giles,  after  a  short  silence, 
"  I  am  ready  to  make  one." 

"  So  am  I,"  said  the  tinker,  waking  up,  as  suddenly 
as  he  had  fallen  asleep. 

Brittles  capitulated  on  these  terms ;  and  the  party 
being  somewhat  reassured  by  the  discovery  (made  on 
throwing  open  the  shutters)  that  it  was  now  broad  day, 
took  their  way  up-stairs ;    with  the  dogs  in  front ;  and 


316  OLIVER  TWIST. 

the  two  women,  who  were  afraid  to  stay  below,  bringing 
up  the  rear.  By  the  advice  of  Mr.  Giles,  they  all 
talked  very  loud,  to  warn  any  evil-disposed  person  out- 
side, that  they  were  strong  in  numbers ;  and  by  a  mas- 
ter-stroke of  policy,  originating  in  the  brain  of  the  same 
ingenious  gentleman,  the  dogs'  tails  were  well  pinched, 
in  the  hall,  to  make  them  bark  savagely. 

These  precautions  having  been  taken,  Mr.  Giles  held 
on  fast  by  the  tinker's  arm  (to  prevent  his  running  away, 
as  he  pleasantly  said),  and  gave  the  word  of  command 
to  open  the  door.  Brittles  obeyed ;  the  group,  peeping 
timorously  over  each  other's  shoulders,  beheld  no  more 
formidable  object  than  poor  little  Oliver  Twist,  speech- 
less and  exhausted,  who  raised  his  heavy  eyes,  and 
mutely  solicited  their  compassion. 

"  A  boy  !  "  exclaimed  Mr.  Giles,  valiantly  pushing  the 
tinker  into  the  background.  "  What's  the  matter  with 
the  —  eh  ?  —  "Why  —  Brittles  —  look  here  —  don't  you 
know?" 

Brittles,  who  had  got  behind  the  door  to  open  it,  no 
sooner  saw  Oliver,  than  he  uttered  a  loud  cry.  Mr. 
Giles,  seizing  the  boy  by  one  leg  and  one  arm  (fortu- 
nately not  the  broken  limb)  lugged  him  straight  into 
the  hall,  and  deposited  him  at  full  length  on  the  floor 
thereof. 

"  Here  he  is  ! "  bawled  Giles,  calling,  in  a  state  of 
great  excitement,  up  the  staircase ;  "  here's  one  of  the 
thieves,  ma'am  !  Here's  a  thief,  miss  !  Wounded,  miss  ! 
I  shot  him,  miss ;  and  Brittles  held  the  light." 

"  —  In  a  lantern,  miss,"  cried  Brittles,  applying  his 
hand  to  the  side  of  his  mouth,  so  that  his  voice  might 
travel  the  better. 

The  two  women-servants  ran  up- stairs  to  carry  the 


OLIVER  TWIST.  317 

intelligence  that  Mr.  Giles  had  captured  a  robber ;  and 
the  tinker  busied  himself  in  endeavoring  to  restore 
Oliver,  lest  he  should  die  before  he  could  be  hanged. 
In  the  midst  of  all  this  noise  and  commotion,  there 
was  heard  a  sweet  female  voice,  which  quelled  it  in 
an  instant. 

"  Giles  ! "  whispered  the  voice  from  the  stair-head. 

"  I'm  here,  miss,"  replied  Mr.  Giles.  "  Don't  be 
frightened,  miss  ;  I  a'n't  much  injured.  He  didn't  make 
a  very  desperate  resistance,  miss  !  I  was  soon  too  many 
for  him." 

"  Hush  !  "  rephed  the  young  lady  ;  "  you  frighten  my 
aunt,  as  much  as  the  thieves  did.  Is  the  poor  creature 
much  hurt  ?  " 

"  Wounded  desperate,  miss,"  replied  Giles,  with  inde- 
scribable complacency. 

"  He  looks  as  if  he  was  a-going,  miss,"  bawled  Brittles, 
in  the  same  manner  as  before.  "  Wouldn't  you  like  to 
come  and  look  at  him,  miss,  in  case  he  should  ?  " 

"  Hush,  pray ;  there's  a  good  man  !  "  rejoined  the 
young  lady.  "  Wait  quietly  one  instant,  while  I  speak 
to  aunt." 

With  a  footstep  as  soft  and  gentle  as  the  voice,  the 
speaker  tripped  away.  She  soon  returned,  with  the 
direction  that  the  wounded  person  was  to  be  carried, 
carefully,  up-stairs  to  Mr.  Giles's  room  ;  and  that  Brit- 
tles was  to  saddle  the  pony  and  betake  himself  instantly 
to  Chertsey ;  from  which  place,  he  was  to  despatch,  with 
all  speed,  a  constable  and  doctor. 

"  But  won't  you  take  one  look  at  him,  first,  miss  ? " 
asked  Mr.  Giles,  with  as  much  pride  as  if  Oliver  were 
some  bird  of  rare  plumage  that  he  had  skilfully  brought 
down.     "  Not  one  little  peep,  miss  ?  " 


318  OLIVER  TWIST. 

"  Not  now  for  the  world,"  replied  the  young  ladj. 
"  Poor  fellow  !     Oh  !    treat  him   kindly,  Giles,  for  my 

1 " 


The  old  servant  looked  up  at  the  speaker  as  she  turned 
away,  with  a  glance  as  proud  and  admiring  as  if  she  had 
been  his  own  child.  Then,  bending  over  Oliver,  he 
helped  to  carry  him  up-stairs,  with  the  care  and  solici- 
tude of  a  woman. 


END   OF   VOL.   I. 


